Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and “Desiree’s Baby” has many elements that can be compared and contrasted. These stories share similar characteristics such as time period and the theme of marriage. With these characteristics there are many things that need to be considered in each story such as why the time period is a big deal and what it has to do with the theme of marriage. However, there are some contrasts in the two stories like location and antagonistic motives. These contrasts should be taken into account because they are what make the stories two different stories and not a rewrite of one or the other. Chopin shows us these similar characteristics as well as the contrasts to conclude how society has evolved over time.
Time period …show more content…
Both of the stories have controlling husbands in the marriage. This aspect is what connects these two stories. In each story, Chopin talks about how controlling their husbands are. For example, in “The Story of an Hour” Chopin talks how loving and gentle her husband is, but how restricted of freedom Mrs. Mallard feels because of her husband. This example is important in this story because it shows us that Mrs. Mallard because of her husband and societal views feels that she has no freedom until the death of her husband is revealed. The death of her husband tells the reader that Mrs. Mallard was not happy in her marriage and is free to be an independent woman without the negative judgment from her peers. In “Desiree’s Baby”, Chopin talks about how controlling her husband is by being a slave owner and how he responds to thinking she is not white. In this story, Desiree’s husband is portrayed as a self-centered jerk. These examples in each story are vital because even though both women are in unhappy marriages with controlling husbands; their husbands have different antagonistic …show more content…
The setting for “Desiree’s Baby” is in Louisiana while “The Story of an Hour” is set in St. Louis. The setting is critical in these stories because it illustrates to the reader what the societal views are. Louisiana in “Desiree’s Baby” is more of a rural setting whereas St. Louis in “The Story of an Hour” is more suburban. Therefore, “The Story of an Hour” is more modern in their societal views rather than in “Desiree’s Baby”. For example in “Desiree’s Baby”, Chopin specifically states, that Armand had slaves. This is critical because it shows that the society is still very narrow-minded in their views, which would suggest they also have constricted views about interracial marriages. However, in “The Story of an Hour” the location is more modern, therefore showing the reader the change over time. This shows us that society has changed over time to. In this short story, there is a more open mind than in “Desiree’s Baby”. For example, it is acceptable to be an independent woman and own land and control finances if the husband is deceased. In each of these stories location is key to knowing what the societal views
Time period …show more content…
Both of the stories have controlling husbands in the marriage. This aspect is what connects these two stories. In each story, Chopin talks about how controlling their husbands are. For example, in “The Story of an Hour” Chopin talks how loving and gentle her husband is, but how restricted of freedom Mrs. Mallard feels because of her husband. This example is important in this story because it shows us that Mrs. Mallard because of her husband and societal views feels that she has no freedom until the death of her husband is revealed. The death of her husband tells the reader that Mrs. Mallard was not happy in her marriage and is free to be an independent woman without the negative judgment from her peers. In “Desiree’s Baby”, Chopin talks about how controlling her husband is by being a slave owner and how he responds to thinking she is not white. In this story, Desiree’s husband is portrayed as a self-centered jerk. These examples in each story are vital because even though both women are in unhappy marriages with controlling husbands; their husbands have different antagonistic …show more content…
The setting for “Desiree’s Baby” is in Louisiana while “The Story of an Hour” is set in St. Louis. The setting is critical in these stories because it illustrates to the reader what the societal views are. Louisiana in “Desiree’s Baby” is more of a rural setting whereas St. Louis in “The Story of an Hour” is more suburban. Therefore, “The Story of an Hour” is more modern in their societal views rather than in “Desiree’s Baby”. For example in “Desiree’s Baby”, Chopin specifically states, that Armand had slaves. This is critical because it shows that the society is still very narrow-minded in their views, which would suggest they also have constricted views about interracial marriages. However, in “The Story of an Hour” the location is more modern, therefore showing the reader the change over time. This shows us that society has changed over time to. In this short story, there is a more open mind than in “Desiree’s Baby”. For example, it is acceptable to be an independent woman and own land and control finances if the husband is deceased. In each of these stories location is key to knowing what the societal views