Formal Outline

VII. Concession and Refutation (You may decide to divide this section into two paragraphs by explaining an alternative interpretation of this story and its merits in this paragraph; then, explaining its flaws in the next.)

A. Topic sentence: Acknowledge a strong opposing view to your thesis

Another critic may argue that Chopin is more concerned about the role of women in

Society and Armand’s domination over her life.

B. Explain the appeal of this position and introduce a quote to support it.

This claim has some merit and is closely linked to his self-righteous attitude toward

Desiree when they argue about their child’s racial derivation and Armand asserts that “the

the child is not white . . . you are not white” (84).

C. Discuss the quote.

Armand’s authority in judging his child’s characteristics and blaming Desiree for the

percentage of blood that is non-white does provide evidence of his subordination of his

wife; however, it even more powerfully demonstrates his insistence on the purity of his

child’s race.

D. Juxtapose this position to your position on the topic.

Because Armand is most concerned with the economic and social status that he holds in

society, he knows his position would be threatened if his own blood were believed to be

mixed.

E. Reemphasize why your interpretation is more appealing than your opponent’s.

Although Chopin often focuses on the subservience of women in marriage, this story

uniquely emphasizes the subjugation of slaves on his plantation suggesting that Chopin’s

primary purpose is to question the injustice of racial supremacy. F. Your appeal continued.

Just as he often mistreats the slaves, he also cruelly rejects Desiree and tells her to leave because he blames her for their baby’s mixed race.

G. You may discuss another opposing argument or close the paragraph.

Furthermore, the final scene demonstrates Armand’s lack of self-reproach and his re-

establishment of his social position on his plantation which further supports the claim that

racial domination is Chopin’s primary purpose in this short story.