Preview

A Comparison of Status and Role in Society in “Desiree`S Baby” and “a Girl Called Apple”

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1040 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
A Comparison of Status and Role in Society in “Desiree`S Baby” and “a Girl Called Apple”
As adulthood is reached it is important to have a good reputation as one`s social status represents them. Hanan Al-Shaykh`s A Girl Called Apple, a story of an oasis girl who refuses to put up the flag in order to find a groom, and Kate Chopin`s Desiree`s Baby, a story of a couple in Louisiana that separate because of their races, are two stories in which status and role in society impacts the choices made by the characters. Everyone wants to have a high reputation and be powerful as they will be more privileged and respected. The theme of social status causes the conflict in both these stories. The theme is brought out through the characters, in this case, Apple and Armand.
Both the stories are narrated in third person and the plots are constructed in a certain way in which the fact that social status is important is only revealed towards the end. A Girl Called Apple begins off with a short summary introducing Apple`s problem, with several rhetorical question regarding her marital status, “Fate? Accident? Or Apple 's obstinacy which had refused and continued to refuse to raise the wedding flag on the roof?” (AGCA, L. 6-7) Slowly the story progresses, with years passing by, building up tension as Apple continues to refuse putting the flag up. In the end, when Apple finally decides to put up the flag, it is revealed to the reader and she herself realizes she refused to have the flag up because she has been afraid of being rejected all this while. Desiree`s Baby begins with Madame Valmonde going to see the baby. The past is mentioned giving the reader an adequate background on Desiree mentioning she was an orphan. The turning point of the story is when Desiree and Armand discover their child has black origin. Armand asks Desiree, the girl he loves and once accepted keeping in mind she`s an orphan, to leave. It is a shocking moment since his love for her was extremely strong and an image that Armand is willing to accept Desiree for whoever she is is built by the
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Going After Cacciato
    • 17877 Words
    • 72 Pages

    Going After Cacciato

    ©2000-2007 BookRags, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The following sections of this BookRags Premium Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources. ©1998-2002; ©2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design® and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license. The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". © 1994-2005, by Walton Beacham. The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". © 1994-2005, by Walton Beacham. All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copywritten by BookRags, Inc. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution or information storage retrieval systems without the written permission of the publisher.…

    • 17877 Words
    • 72 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Year of Wonders Study Notes
    • 16401 Words
    • 66 Pages

    Year of Wonders Study Notes

    ©2000-2007 BookRags, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The following sections of this BookRags Premium Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources. ©1998-2002; ©2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design® and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license. The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". © 1994-2005, by Walton Beacham. The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". © 1994-2005, by Walton Beacham. All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copywritten by BookRags, Inc. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution or information storage retrieval systems without the written permission of the publisher.…

    • 16401 Words
    • 66 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparing A & P And Story Of An Hour
    • 732 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Comparing A & P And Story Of An Hour

    John Updike’s “A & P” and Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” resemble each other in the sense that both want to break out of the social standard that they have been molded into. When a chance to go beyond their usual limitations is presented, both Sammy and Mrs. Mallard realize they are able to walk towards the freedom they long for. Despite the difference in situation...Both Sammy and Mrs. Mallard struggle within themselves to cope with social norms set for them. In the brief moment they are given a chance to escape the norm and live a life of freedom they long for, both characters act upon that chance.…

    • 732 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    An Analysis Of Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin
    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages

    An Analysis Of Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin

    The perception society has on a person is one of the biggest influences in our society. It is sad to say, but the truth is people will change the way they act and will lie in order to look the best to others. They want to be at the top with everyone either wanting to be them or wanting to be with them. In “ Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin we see a perfect example of what people are willing to do in order to keep their flawless perception in society’s eyes. Chopin tells the story of an innocent girl who comes from a mysterious background who climbs her way to the top of society, but soon finds herself falling from her dream world. Society’s harsh view on a person’s flaws can turn the person we love from good to evil in a matter of seconds.…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Vedlt
    • 12921 Words
    • 38 Pages

    Vedlt

    The following sections of this BookRags Premium Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare &Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources. ©1998−2002; ©2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design® and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license. The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". © 1994−2005, by Walton Beacham. The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". © 1994−2005, by Walton Beacham. All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copywritten by BookRags, Inc. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution or information storage retrieval systems without the written permission of the publisher.…

    • 12921 Words
    • 38 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Role Of Sexism In Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin
    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Role Of Sexism In Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin

    In the era Chopin wrote "Desiree's Baby" sexism was a major point in the lives of women, permitting them from being able to speak for themselves. Chopin later reveals that Armand was the one who truly was of black dissent and he was the one who had passed those genes down to the baby. But Desiree who has all the right in the world to defend herself cannot simply because of her sex. She is accused of the "unconscious injury she had brought upon [Armand's] home and his name"(244). Although Chopin states that Desiree is whiter than Armand and the baby, because of the setting of the story she cannot defend her honor in saying she isn’t black. Peel writes that, "Desiree is immersed in her husband's value system and never stands up to [Armand], not…

    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Prideful Family In Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin
    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Prideful Family In Desiree's Baby By Kate Chopin

    The reader can start to feel this child like attitude Desiree has in the beginning when Madame Valmonde thought that “it seem[ed] but yesterday that Desiree was little more than a baby herself”(Chopin 1). This sentence foreshadow and hints at Desiree's thoughts and actions being based on what others think of her. One example of this is how she lets Armand decide her happiness. In the story it states, “when he frowned she trembled, but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God” (Chopin 1). As it says in the quote Desiree based her joy on Armands actions and feelings. This relates to the end of the book when she leaves the town and is never being seen again leading the reader to believe she died or went into hiding; Desiree possibly killed her and the baby because Armand assumed and she could not live with others thinking badly of her. Another example of this is when she writes her mom asking her to deny that she was black but when her mother wrote back saying, "My own Desiree: Come home to Valmonde; back to your mother who loves you. Come with your child” (Chopin 2). Which shows that Madame Valmonde also thought that Desiree was black. The reader can infer that because of two people's assumption that she was black, Desiree started to feel low in worth leading her to possibly kill herself. These examples in the story show that Desiree was dependent on others inside of being self…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Perspective In Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour
    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Perspective In Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour

    Kate Chopin was a novelist and American short story writer. In 1894, Chopin wrote a particularly intriguing short story, The Story of an Hour, about a woman who was trying to escape society’s judgemental image of women. In Chopin’s story, Louise Mallard, the protagonist, feels distressed and restricted because of the expectations society holds for women as subordinate to men. When the protagonist’s husband supposedly dies, Louise finally feels free to make life choices independently and not have to conform to how society wants her to be. Although Chopin’s description of freedom is the freedom for Louise to be independent and think individually, her idea of freedom from society's expectations and stereotypes connects to Douglass and his story. Freedom from society’s view on the privileges that people have and how they live their lives is one theme that unifies Chopin and Douglass’ thought-provoking stories and also is constant “living theme” in my…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Compare the ways in which Madame Loisel and the daughter in 'Two Kinds' respond to the pressures and expectations of their families and societies.
    • 637 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Compare the ways in which Madame Loisel and the daughter in 'Two Kinds' respond to the pressures and expectations of their families and societies.

    Both, Madame Loisel and the daughter from two kinds, find themselves in similar situations. The situations seem different but in reality they aren't, as both of them are expected to do certain things, the only different is that the daughter from to kinds in forced to do thing and Madame Loisel just feel like she had to do or to have a certain thing.…

    • 637 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of A Good Man Is Hard To Find
    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Summary Of A Good Man Is Hard To Find

    O’Connor’s tragic shorts story of a murdered family introduces endless amount of literary judgment and discussion. The characters portray evidence indicating a generation gap and establish a new social order. Most people would agree that the grandmother's character does not relate to the present generation and her encounter with the Misfit shatters her values creating a new social order. O'Connor creates a picture that…

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Shirley Jackson Patriarchy
    • 1048 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Shirley Jackson Patriarchy

    Female agency implicates on putting the female at the center, which has been explored to a certain degree in the characters Tessie Hutchinson in Jackson’s “The lottery”, Louise Mallard in Chopin’s “ The story of an Hour” as well as Joyce’s “ Eveline.” The three stories arise together from the unavoidable fact of women discrimination and patriarchy. This conflict is the key factor on explaining the main point of the stories which is the attack of the society’s ideas of fear, equality, and freedom.…

    • 1048 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kate Chopin's The Awakening
    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    Kate Chopin’s book The Awakening is based on the expections placed on women in society, particularly in the upper class at the turn of the 20th century. This story explains how there is more than one reason why effects on a human or thing happen. Edna Pontellier’s character shows not only the limited options of a woman, but the dangers of taking risks of unrealistic expectations of life and love. Chopin is trying to show how change can break a human.…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Gender and Race in Zora Neale Hurston's Short Story, Sweat
    • 1047 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Gender and Race in Zora Neale Hurston's Short Story, Sweat

    the story, filled its content with a deep political statement on social inequality. Gender comes into…

    • 1047 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Stolen Party
    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Stolen Party

    In the Stolen Party the author, Liliana Heker, magnificently illustrates the theme of innocence and purity. More specifically innocence and purity of childhood is shown to be the invisible barriers of social classes in the society. Although the characters are similar, they are still separated by one gap and that is social classes. These themes are shown through diction and tone, mood, and symbolism.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Desiree's Baby Thesis
    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Desiree's Baby Thesis

    "It means . . . that the child is not white; it means that you are not white" (132). The previous statement is indeed very crucial to determining that the theme of the story "Desiree's Baby" by Kate Chopin is a condemnation of racism. The proof that this is the theme lies within the time period when the story was written along with the stories setting, Armand's racist behavior, and the overall outcome of the story.…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics