Caline

Question

by Kate Chopin

The sun was just far enough in the west to send inviting shadows. In the center of a small field, and in the shade of a haystack which was there, a girl lay sleeping. She had slept long and soundly, when something awoke her as suddenly as if it had been a blow. She opened her eyes and stared a moment up in the cloudless sky. She yawned and stretched her long brown legs and arms, lazily. Then she arose, never minding the bits of straw that clung to her black hair, to her red bodice, and the blue cotonade skirt that did not reach her ankles.

The log cabin in which she dwelt with her parents was just outside the enclosure in which she had been sleeping. Beyond was a small clearing that did duty as a cotton field. All else was dense wood, except the long stretch that curved round the brow of the hill, and in which glittered the steel rails of the Texas and Pacific road.

When Caline emerged from the shadow she saw a long train of passenger coaches standing in view, where they must have stopped abruptly. It was that sudden stopping which had awakened her; for such a thing had not happened before within her recollection, and she looked stupid, at first, with astonishment. There seemed to be something wrong with the engine; and some of the passengers who dismounted went forward to investigate the trouble. Others came strolling along in the direction of the cabin, where Caline stood under an old gnarled mulberry tree, staring. Her father had halted his mule at the end of the cotton row, and stood staring also, leaning upon his plow.

There were ladies in the party. They walked awkwardly in their high-heeled boots over the rough, uneven ground. They tried to talk to Caline, but could not understand the French patois with which she answered them.

One of the men—a pleasant-faced youngster—drew a sketch book from his pocket and began to make a picture of the girl. She stayed motionless, her hands behind her, and her wide eyes fixed earnestly upon him. Before he had finished there was a summons from the train; and all went scampering hurriedly away. The engine screeched, it sent a few lazy puffs into the still air, and in another moment or two had vanished, bearing its human cargo with it.

Caline could not feel the same after that. She looked with new and strange interest upon the trains of cars that passed so swiftly back and forth across her vision, each day; and wondered whence these people came, and whither they were going.

One day she walked miles down the track to talk with the old flagman, who stayed down there by the big water tank. Yes, he knew. Those people came from the great cities in the north, and were going to the city in the south. He knew all about the city; it was a grand place. He had lived there once. His sister lived there now; and she would be glad enough to have so fine a girl as Caline to help her cook and scrub, and tend the babies. And he thought Caline might earn as much as five dollars a month, in the city.

So she went; in a new cotonade, and her Sunday shoes; with a sacredly guarded scrawl that the flagman sent to his sister.

The woman lived in a tiny, stuccoed house, with green blinds, and three wooden steps leading down to the banquette. Over the house tops loomed the tall masts of ships, and the hum of the French market could be heard on a still morning. Caline was at first bewildered. She had to readjust all her preconceptions to fit the reality of it. The flagman's sister was a kind and gentle task-mistress. At the end of a week or two she wanted to know how the girl liked it all. Caline liked it very well, for it was pleasant, on Sunday afternoons, to stroll with the children under the great, solemn sugar sheds; or to sit upon the compressed cotton bales, watching the stately steamers, the graceful boats, and noisy little tugs that plied the waters of the Mississippi.

When the woman asked her again after another week if she were still pleased, she was not so sure. And again when she questioned Caline the girl turned away, and went to sit behind the big, yellow cistern, to cry unobserved. For she knew now that it was not the great city and its crowds of people she had so eagerly sought; but the pleasant-faced boy, who had made her picture that day under the mulberry tree.

Answer 1

"Caline" by Kate Chopin captures the essence of innocence, discovery, and the yearning for connection through the story of a young girl from a rural setting. Caline, whose life is deeply intertwined with the simple rhythms of a cotton field and the surrounding woods, experiences a transformative moment when she encounters travelers from the city. The sudden arrival of a train and its passengers introduces her to a world beyond her own and ignites her curiosity about life outside her secluded existence.

In the narrative, Caline's transition from a naive girl to someone who begins to comprehend her desires is marked by her interaction with a pleasant-faced young man who sketches her. This moment symbolizes a turning point in her life, awakening aspirations and dreams that extend beyond her current circumstances. The vivid imagery of the train and the bustling city contrasts sharply with her tranquil rural life, highlighting the dichotomy between her origins and what lies beyond.

As she embarks on an adventure to the city, Caline’s initial awe and excitement quickly morph into a bittersweet realization of her true feelings. Although the urban environment offers new experiences and a form of independence, it becomes clear that what she longs for is not merely the excitement of city life but a deeper emotional connection, specifically to the young man who captured her essence with his art.

Chopin deftly explores themes of identity, longing, and the complexity of emotional attachment. Through Caline's journey, readers witness the often conflicting desires for both freedom and love. Her final understanding—recognizing that what she truly misses is not the city itself but the boy who saw her for who she was—leaves the reader with a poignant reflection on the nature of longing and the deep connections that shape our lives.

The story resonantly portrays the transition from childhood innocence to the complexities of adult emotions, encapsulating a universal theme that many can relate to. Caline’s journey is a microcosm of the broader human experience—searching for connection and purpose in a world that often feels vast and overwhelming. In the end, Caline's story serves as a gentle reminder of the power of love and the simple, profound joys that can be found in meaningful relationships.