Paper questions

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When Society Decides a Woman’s Life

Excellent Student

West Coast University

English 240 Written Communications

Processor Melissa Cueto

March 16, 2026

When Society Decides a Woman’s Life

Kate Chopin wrote about the struggles women faced in the nineteenth century society. Her short stories The Story of an Hour (1894) and Desiree’s Baby (1893) both show women dealing with social pressure. In both stories, the main female characters go through emotional struggles because of what society expects from them as woman. In both The Story of an Hour and Desiree’s Baby, Chopin uses foreshadowing and irony to show how society limits women and how that emotional pressure leads to tragic endings.

Chopin uses foreshadowing in both stories to hint at the emotional pressure these women are dealing with. Kate Chopin hints that Louise is fragile when the narrator says she was “afflicted with a heart trouble” (Chopin, 1894, p. 1). Her heart condition pretty much hints that strong emotions caused by her situation might lead her death later. The narrator also describes Louise as “young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression” (Chopin, 1894, p. 2), which shows she’s been holding in emotions for a long time. When Louise sits by the window, the narrator describes “a comfortable, roomy armchair” (Chopin, 1894, p. 2). This represents the freedom she wants but doesn’t really have. In Desiree’s Baby, Chopin also hints that something bad is coming when the narrator says, “there was something in the air menacing her peace” (Chopin, 1893, p. 2). This hints that something bad is going to happen to her and her family. Critics explain that Chopin often used small symbolic details to show how women were emotionally confined by social expectations (Toth, 1999). Both of these stories silently warn readers that woman’s happiness will not last.

Chopin also uses irony to show how unfair society can be toward these women. Louise realizes she’s finally free when she whispers “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3). Louise feels free for the first time, which shows how trapped she felt in her marriage. At the end, the doctor say she died of “heart disease of joy that kills” (Chopin, 1894, p. 4). This is ironic because she didn’t die from happiness, she died from losing her freedom. “It means… that you are not white” (Chopin, 1893, p.3). Desiree is judged based on race, which reflects society’s prejudice. “For having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother belongs to that race that is cursed with the brand of slavery” (Chopin, 1893, p.5) This is ironic because Armand was blaming Desiree for something that was part of his own background.

Another major connection between both stories show how social pressure on woman can lead to tragic outcomes. Louise begins to imagine her future when she realizes “there would be no one to live for her during those coming years. She would live for herself” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3). Louise realizes she finally has independence. Desiree’s sad ending is shown when the narrator explains that “she disappeared among the reeds and willows. and she did not come back again” (Chopin, 1893, p. 4). Desiree leaving shows how society pushed her out. “There would be no powerful will bending hers” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3). This shows Louise realizes marriage controlled all her choices and her identity, proving how social expectations limiting women’s independence. Louise also repeats the words “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3), showing how deeply she felt trapped in her marriage before. This means g freedom for woman was rare in society at the time. Armand cruelly rejects Desiree when he tells her, “It means that you are not white” (Chopin, 1893, p.3). This moment shows how the society sees Desiree’s worth through race and status rather than her character. Later, Armand completely rejects her when he says “Yes, I want you to go” (Chopin, 1893, p. 4). Armands rejecting proves how powerless Desiree is within marriage and society, leading her disappearance and sad fate. Psychological research explains that feelings of abandonment can deeply affect identity and belonging (Landerholm, 2007). Desiree’s fate reflects how women was often powerless once society rejects them for their inconveniences. In both stories, tragedy happens when social expectations leave them without choices.

A big connection between The Story of an Hour and Desiree’s Baby is how both stories show little freedom woman had to during that time period. During the time, women was expected to focus on marriage and follow social rules rather than make choices for themselves (Toth, 1999). Louise shortly feels her independence when she thinks her husband has died. She starts imagining a future where “there would be no one to live for her during those coming years: she would live for herself” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3). She also realizes her freedom when she whispers “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 1894, p.). This shows how trapped she felt in her marriage and how rare freedom for woman was a the time. In Desiree’s Baby, Desiree also loses control over her life when her husband rejects her “it means that you are not white” (Chopin, 1893, p.3), which shows how society judged people based on race and status. Later he completely rejects her when he says, “Yes I want you to go” (Chopin, 1893, p. 4). This shows how powerless Desiree is in her marriage and society. Scholars explain that Kate Chopin often wrote about women struggling against the limits society placed on them (Showalter, 1991). Both stories show how women didn’t really have control over their identity or future, which helps explain why both stories end tragically.

In both The Story of an Hour and Desiree’s Baby, Chopin uses irony and foreshadowing to show how society limits women and how that pressure can lead to tragic endings. It shows how women had little freedom in society. It highlights the emotional impact of social expectations, and it proves how unfair treatment can have serious consequences.

References

Chopin, K. (1893). Desiree’s baby. https://www.katechopin.org/pdfs/desirees-baby.pdf

Chopin, K. (1894). The story of an hour. https://my.hrw.com/support/hos/hostpdf/host_text_219.pdf

Landreth, L. (2001). The experience of abandonment and adoption: A psychological motivational perspective. International Forum of Psychoanalysis. https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/library

Showalter, E. (1991). Sister’s choice: Tradition and change in American women’s writing. Oxford University Press. https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/library

Toth, E. (1999). Unveiling Kate Chopin. University Press of Mississippi.

https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/library

1

3

When Society Decides a Woman’s Life

Excellent Student

West Coast University

English 240 Written Communications

Processor Melissa Cueto

March 16, 2026

When Society Decides a Woman’s Life

Kate Chopin wrote about the struggles women faced in the nineteenth century society. Her short stories The Story of an Hour (1894) and Desiree’s Baby (1893) both show women dealing with social pressure. In both stories, the main female characters go through emotional struggles because of what society expects from them as woman. In both The Story of an Hour and Desiree’s Baby, Chopin uses foreshadowing and irony to show how society limits women and how that emotional pressure leads to tragic endings.

Chopin uses foreshadowing in both stories to hint at the emotional pressure these women are dealing with. Kate Chopin hints that Louise is fragile when the narrator says she was “afflicted with a heart trouble” (Chopin, 1894, p. 1). Her heart condition pretty much hints that strong emotions caused by her situation might lead her death later. The narrator also describes Louise as “young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression” (Chopin, 1894, p. 2), which shows she’s been holding in emotions for a long time. When Louise sits by the window, the narrator describes “a comfortable, roomy armchair” (Chopin, 1894, p. 2). This represents the freedom she wants but doesn’t really have. In Desiree’s Baby, Chopin also hints that something bad is coming when the narrator says, “there was something in the air menacing her peace” (Chopin, 1893, p. 2). This hints that something bad is going to happen to her and her family. Critics explain that Chopin often used small symbolic details to show how women were emotionally confined by social expectations (Toth, 1999). Both of these stories silently warn readers that woman’s happiness will not last.

Chopin also uses irony to show how unfair society can be toward these women. Louise realizes she’s finally free when she whispers “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3). Louise feels free for the first time, which shows how trapped she felt in her marriage. At the end, the doctor say she died of “heart disease of joy that kills” (Chopin, 1894, p. 4). This is ironic because she didn’t die from happiness, she died from losing her freedom. “It means… that you are not white” (Chopin, 1893, p.3). Desiree is judged based on race, which reflects society’s prejudice. “For having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother belongs to that race that is cursed with the brand of slavery” (Chopin, 1893, p.5) This is ironic because Armand was blaming Desiree for something that was part of his own background.

Another major connection between both stories show how social pressure on woman can lead to tragic outcomes. Louise begins to imagine her future when she realizes “there would be no one to live for her during those coming years. She would live for herself” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3). Louise realizes she finally has independence. Desiree’s sad ending is shown when the narrator explains that “she disappeared among the reeds and willows. and she did not come back again” (Chopin, 1893, p. 4). Desiree leaving shows how society pushed her out. “There would be no powerful will bending hers” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3). This shows Louise realizes marriage controlled all her choices and her identity, proving how social expectations limiting women’s independence. Louise also repeats the words “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3), showing how deeply she felt trapped in her marriage before. This means g freedom for woman was rare in society at the time. Armand cruelly rejects Desiree when he tells her, “It means that you are not white” (Chopin, 1893, p.3). This moment shows how the society sees Desiree’s worth through race and status rather than her character. Later, Armand completely rejects her when he says “Yes, I want you to go” (Chopin, 1893, p. 4). Armands rejecting proves how powerless Desiree is within marriage and society, leading her disappearance and sad fate. Psychological research explains that feelings of abandonment can deeply affect identity and belonging (Landerholm, 2007). Desiree’s fate reflects how women was often powerless once society rejects them for their inconveniences. In both stories, tragedy happens when social expectations leave them without choices.

A big connection between The Story of an Hour and Desiree’s Baby is how both stories show little freedom woman had to during that time period. During the time, women was expected to focus on marriage and follow social rules rather than make choices for themselves (Toth, 1999). Louise shortly feels her independence when she thinks her husband has died. She starts imagining a future where “there would be no one to live for her during those coming years: she would live for herself” (Chopin, 1894, p. 3). She also realizes her freedom when she whispers “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 1894, p.). This shows how trapped she felt in her marriage and how rare freedom for woman was a the time. In Desiree’s Baby, Desiree also loses control over her life when her husband rejects her “it means that you are not white” (Chopin, 1893, p.3), which shows how society judged people based on race and status. Later he completely rejects her when he says, “Yes I want you to go” (Chopin, 1893, p. 4). This shows how powerless Desiree is in her marriage and society. Scholars explain that Kate Chopin often wrote about women struggling against the limits society placed on them (Showalter, 1991). Both stories show how women didn’t really have control over their identity or future, which helps explain why both stories end tragically.

In both The Story of an Hour and Desiree’s Baby, Chopin uses irony and foreshadowing to show how society limits women and how that pressure can lead to tragic endings. It shows how women had little freedom in society. It highlights the emotional impact of social expectations, and it proves how unfair treatment can have serious consequences.

References

Chopin, K. (1893). Desiree’s baby. https://www.katechopin.org/pdfs/desirees-baby.pdf

Chopin, K. (1894). The story of an hour. https://my.hrw.com/support/hos/hostpdf/host_text_219.pdf

Landreth, L. (2001). The experience of abandonment and adoption: A psychological motivational perspective. International Forum of Psychoanalysis. https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/library

Showalter, E. (1991). Sister’s choice: Tradition and change in American women’s writing. Oxford University Press. https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/library

Toth, E. (1999). Unveiling Kate Chopin. University Press of Mississippi.

https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/library