English 48B
3/3/2009
Kate Chopin
"She would not compose herself; she would not be seated"
This quote is describing Calixta, and her worries of her husband and son, w
ho are not home with during a huge storm. At first, she is too involved in her work to even notice that their is a storm, but when a past love interest stops by, she is aware of what is going on. Alcee, the visitor, is trying to get her to relax and stop worrying about her family, but she refuses to have her tell her what to do. He tries to pull her close to him, before she reciprocates by pulling away, and telling him to stop. She also has a brief rendezvous with Alcee, whom is also married, before her husband and son return home safely. Her family also comes with gifts from the store, and Alcee writes a loving letter to his wife and children as well. This story, like many other of Chopins stories, can be viewed from a feminist stand point.
This quote had several reasons for sticking out to me so much. First of all, it represents the personality of Calixta, and shows that she is in control of herself, and does not allow others to try and repress her. Chopin is notorious for writing about "Creole" women, whom are high class and conventional, which means they do not have much freedom. Calixta goes against that form, and through actions and words lives her own life on her own terms. Calixta, unlike Chopins repressed female characters, appears to live a happy life, by doing what she pleases. Chopin even allows her to be sexually free when she participates in an affair. However, at the end of the day, her family returns home, and she is happy to see them. Chopin wants to show that true happiness only comes by living a free life, without oppression. Calixta, in a sense, is the one with the sexual power, for she is the one wh
o seduces Alcee, even though he makes the moves, she is the one who is described as exuding sexuality. Through her actions, she is described as being in control of Alcee, such as by pushing him away. Even though she "gives in" to Alcee's attempts to be with her, it is not by force, and does not compromise her wants. The story in its entirety can also be viewed through "queer critique lenses", in that it is unconventional in the ending as well. Chopin creates this infidel relationship, that most would view as morally wrong. However, despite it being against the social standards of acceptable, the story ends with everybody being happy. The families return to their normal lives, and they all still love each other and want to be with each other. If anything, Calixta is viewed as the "more good" character, for Alcee tells his wife to stay in France, as if he does not want to be with them, and is a bad father. During the time, the "over sexed" woman would be viewed as the evil one, not the man. The fact that Chopin made Calixta likable to the reader is another way of looking at the story from a feminist point of view.
This quote is describing Calixta, and her worries of her husband and son, w
ho are not home with during a huge storm. At first, she is too involved in her work to even notice that their is a storm, but when a past love interest stops by, she is aware of what is going on. Alcee, the visitor, is trying to get her to relax and stop worrying about her family, but she refuses to have her tell her what to do. He tries to pull her close to him, before she reciprocates by pulling away, and telling him to stop. She also has a brief rendezvous with Alcee, whom is also married, before her husband and son return home safely. Her family also comes with gifts from the store, and Alcee writes a loving letter to his wife and children as well. This story, like many other of Chopins stories, can be viewed from a feminist stand point.This quote had several reasons for sticking out to me so much. First of all, it represents the personality of Calixta, and shows that she is in control of herself, and does not allow others to try and repress her. Chopin is notorious for writing about "Creole" women, whom are high class and conventional, which means they do not have much freedom. Calixta goes against that form, and through actions and words lives her own life on her own terms. Calixta, unlike Chopins repressed female characters, appears to live a happy life, by doing what she pleases. Chopin even allows her to be sexually free when she participates in an affair. However, at the end of the day, her family returns home, and she is happy to see them. Chopin wants to show that true happiness only comes by living a free life, without oppression. Calixta, in a sense, is the one with the sexual power, for she is the one wh
o seduces Alcee, even though he makes the moves, she is the one who is described as exuding sexuality. Through her actions, she is described as being in control of Alcee, such as by pushing him away. Even though she "gives in" to Alcee's attempts to be with her, it is not by force, and does not compromise her wants. The story in its entirety can also be viewed through "queer critique lenses", in that it is unconventional in the ending as well. Chopin creates this infidel relationship, that most would view as morally wrong. However, despite it being against the social standards of acceptable, the story ends with everybody being happy. The families return to their normal lives, and they all still love each other and want to be with each other. If anything, Calixta is viewed as the "more good" character, for Alcee tells his wife to stay in France, as if he does not want to be with them, and is a bad father. During the time, the "over sexed" woman would be viewed as the evil one, not the man. The fact that Chopin made Calixta likable to the reader is another way of looking at the story from a feminist point of view.
20/20 The last sentence introduces the crucial feminist perspective...so different from the way the story was viewed (by most readers/editors) at the time!
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