Then read the story "The Kiss" by Kate Chopin and complete the Discussion assignment below these instructions. Here is the Unit 5 Discussion assignment you will need to complete: There are TWO parts to this assignment: Your original response to the discussion prompt Your response to one of your classmates’ posts Answer the prompt questions below using paragraph form. Your answer should be TWO paragraphs long (one paragraph for each question) and should be written in complete sentences. In "The Kiss," Kate Chopin explores themes of love, deception, and societal expectations. How do the characters' actions and decisions reflect their personal desires versus societal norms? Do you think Nathalie's choices are justified given her circumstances? Why or why not? Respond to at least one of your classmates’ posts explaining WHY you agree or disagree with their opinions. Your response should be at least 3-4 sentences long. Please write using complete sentencesIt was still quite light out of doors, but inside with the curtains drawn and the smouldering fire sending out a dim, uncertain glow, the room was full of deep shadows.
Brantain sat in one of these shadows; it had overtaken him and he did not mind. The obscurity lent him courage to keep his eves fastened as ardently as he liked upon the girl who sat in the firelight.
She was very handsome, with a certain fine, rich coloring that belongs to the healthy brune type. She was quite composed, as she idly stroked the satiny coat of the cat that lay curled in her lap, and she occasionally sent a slow glance into the shadow where her companion sat. They were talking low, of indifferent things which plainly were not the things that occupied their thoughts. She knew that he loved her--a frank, blustering fellow without guile enough to conceal his feelings, and no desire to do so. For two weeks past he had sought her society eagerly and persistently. She was confidently waiting for him to declare himself and she meant to accept him. The rather insignificant and unattractive Brantain was enormously rich; and she liked and required the entourage which wealth could give her.
During one of the pauses between their talk of the last tea and the next reception the door opened and a young man entered whom Brantain knew quite well. The girl turned her face toward him. A stride or two brought him to her side, and bending over her chair--before she could suspect his intention, for she did not realize that he had not seen her visitor--he pressed an ardent, lingering kiss upon her lips.
Brantain slowly arose; so did the girl arise, but quickly, and the newcomer stood between them, a little amusement and some defiance struggling with the confusion in his face.
"I believe," stammered Brantain, "I see that I have stayed too long. I--I had no idea--that is, I must wish you good-by." He was clutching his hat with both hands, and probably did not perceive that she was extending her hand to him, her presence of mind had not completely deserted her; but she could not have trusted herself to speak.
"Hang me if I saw him sitting there, Nattie! I know it's deuced awkward for you. But I hope you'll forgive me this once--this very first break. Why, what's the matter?"
"Don't touch me; don't come near me," she returned angrily. "What do you mean by entering the house without ringing?"
"I came in with your brother, as I often do," he answered coldly, in self-justification. "We came in the side way. He went upstairs and I came in here hoping to find you. The explanation is simple enough and ought to satisfy you that the misadventure was unavoidable. But do say that you forgive me, Nathalie," he entreated, softening.
"Forgive you! You don't know what you are talking about. Let me pass. It depends upon--a good deal whether I ever forgive you."
At that next reception which she and Brantain had been talking about she approached the young man with a delicious frankness of manner when she saw him there.
"Will you let me speak to you a moment or two, Mr. Brantain?" she asked with an engaging but perturbed smile. He seemed extremely unhappy; but when she took his arm and walked away with him, seeking a retired corner, a ray of hope mingled with the almost comical misery of his expression. She was apparently very outspoken.
"Perhaps I should not have sought this interview, Mr. Brantain; but--but, oh, I have been very uncomfortable, almost miserable since that little encounter the other afternoon. When I thought how you might have misinterpreted it, and believed things" --hope was plainly gaining the ascendancy over misery in Brantain's round, guileless face--"Of course, I know it is nothing to you, but for my own sake I do want you to understand that Mr. Harvy is an intimate friend of long standing. Why, we have always been like cousins--like brother and sister, I may say. He is my brother's most intimate associate and often fancies that he is entitled to the same privileges as the family. Oh, I know it is absurd, uncalled for, to tell you this; undignified even," she was almost weeping, "but it makes so much difference to me what you think of--of me." Her voice had grown very low and agitated. The misery had all disappeared from Brantain's face.
"Then you do really care what I think, Miss Nathalie? May I call you Miss Nathalie?" They turned into a long, dim corridor that was lined on either side with tall, graceful plants. They walked slowly to the very end of it. When they turned to retrace their steps Brantain's face was radiant and hers was triumphant.
Harvy was among the guests at the wedding; and he sought her out in a rare moment when she stood alone.
"Your husband," he said, smiling, "has sent me over to kiss you. "
A quick blush suffused her face and round polished throat. "I suppose it's natural for a man to feel and act generously on an occasion of this kind. He tells me he doesn't want his marriage to interrupt wholly that pleasant intimacy which has existed between you and me. I don't know what you've been telling him," with an insolent smile, "but he has sent me here to kiss you."
She felt like a chess player who, by the clever handling of his pieces, sees the game taking the course intended. Her eyes were bright and tender with a smile as they glanced up into his; and her lips looked hungry for the kiss which they invited.
"But, you know," he went on quietly, "I didn't tell him so, it would have seemed ungrateful, but I can tell you. I've stopped kissing women; it's dangerous."
Well, she had Brantain and his million left. A person can't have everything in this world; and it was a little unreasonable of her to expect it.
In Lord of the Flies, the narrator provides an omniscient, drone's-eye view of the boys on the island. How does that choice by the author help to involve the reader in the developing story? How does it encourage the reader to sit in judgment of the characters?
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In "The Kiss," Kate Chopin intricately weaves the characters' actions and decisions against the backdrop of societal norms, revealing the tension between personal desires and societal expectations. Nathalie, the central character, is presented as a woman who seeks not only love but also the social status that comes with wealth. Her interactions with Brantain and Harvy demonstrate her navigation through social conventions, as she initially strings Brantain along while harboring feelings for Harvy. The kiss exchanged between Harvy and Nathalie signifies not just a personal moment but also a rebellion against the constraints placed upon her. Nathalie's choices are heavily influenced by the societal expectation to marry well and secure her place within the upper echelon, which complicates her personal sentiments and leads to her eventual moral ambiguity. Thus, her actions reflect a complex interplay between fulfilling her desires and adhering to the dictates of a society that prizes wealth and status over authenticity in relationships.
Considering the justification of Nathalie's choices, it is essential to examine the constraints of her society. On one hand, her behavior can be seen as a tactical maneuver to secure her future—she knows the importance of wealth and the advantages it brings, especially when navigating the precarious realm of romantic relationships. However, this raises ethical questions about deceit and manipulation. Her choices, particularly her willingness to lead Brantain on and toy with Harvy's affections, suggest a level of selfishness that could be criticized. While one could argue that her circumstances warrant her deceptive tactics given the limited options available for women of her time, it is difficult to fully justify her lack of transparency and honesty. Ultimately, Nathalie's actions serve as both a reflection of her desires and a critique of the societal norms that shape those desires, making it a complex moral landscape that invites varied interpretations of her justification.
I found your analysis of Nathalie's character very insightful, particularly your discussion of her motivations and the societal pressures she faces. I agree that her choices reflect a desire for autonomy and security in a restrictive society. However, I believe the extent of her deception could be viewed as damaging, especially to Brantain, who genuinely cares for her. While her actions might seem justified in the context of her limited options, the emotional consequences for those around her complicate the idea of justification. This duality is what makes Chopin's work so compelling, as it forces readers to consider the gray areas of morality in a society that often demands sacrifices from individuals for the sake of social standing.
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