The American Literary Regionalist movement, or more simply the Regionalist movement, was a literary movement in the mid-to-late 19th century characterized by placing a strong importance on setting, the remoteness of nature, and the danger of industrialization. Female regionalists specifically often had lead female characters who were young or unmarried, with male characters who disrupted their life and serenity (Campbell). These women were often used as a representation for nature or a resistance to change, while the abrasive men who disrupted their lives sometimes stood for the industrialization that was occurring in America at that time. These women would always ultimately seem to gain control over the men though, supposedly symbolic of the
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Louisa seems to be suspicious of Lily as she brings her up in the beginning, even remarking, “‘She looks like a real capable girl. She’s pretty-looking too.’” (Freeman, 4) Joe is embarrassed to speak about Lily to Louisa, yet does not hesitate to discuss his potential marriage as he argues with Lily later on, “I’m going right on an’ get married next week. I ain’t going back on a woman that’s waited for me fourteen years, an’ break her heart.” (Freeman, 14) The lack of communication between Louisa and Lily emphasizes the fact that their relationship is defined through Joe, while the fact that Lily walks by Louisa’s house at the end of the story shows they live near enough to know each other by …show more content…
She goes from calm to incredibly frantic and in need of comfort as soon as Alcee appears, using her beauty and supposed vulnerability to draw Alcee in, “Calixta put her hands to her eyes, and with a cry, staggered backward. Alcee’s arm encircled her, and for an instant he drew her close and spasmodically to him.” (457) The physical touch coupled with Calixta’s pale skin and full figure are too much of a temptation for Alcee, although we receive no narrative indicating Calixta’s thoughts or possible regrets in this moment. Emily Toth describes the scandal of this scene in her book Unveiling Kate Chopin, stating, “The first story takes place during a warm dark night, while the second is a daring daylight tryst, in much bolder language.”
Louisa seems to be suspicious of Lily as she brings her up in the beginning, even remarking, “‘She looks like a real capable girl. She’s pretty-looking too.’” (Freeman, 4) Joe is embarrassed to speak about Lily to Louisa, yet does not hesitate to discuss his potential marriage as he argues with Lily later on, “I’m going right on an’ get married next week. I ain’t going back on a woman that’s waited for me fourteen years, an’ break her heart.” (Freeman, 14) The lack of communication between Louisa and Lily emphasizes the fact that their relationship is defined through Joe, while the fact that Lily walks by Louisa’s house at the end of the story shows they live near enough to know each other by …show more content…
She goes from calm to incredibly frantic and in need of comfort as soon as Alcee appears, using her beauty and supposed vulnerability to draw Alcee in, “Calixta put her hands to her eyes, and with a cry, staggered backward. Alcee’s arm encircled her, and for an instant he drew her close and spasmodically to him.” (457) The physical touch coupled with Calixta’s pale skin and full figure are too much of a temptation for Alcee, although we receive no narrative indicating Calixta’s thoughts or possible regrets in this moment. Emily Toth describes the scandal of this scene in her book Unveiling Kate Chopin, stating, “The first story takes place during a warm dark night, while the second is a daring daylight tryst, in much bolder language.”