This term paper is a meta-discussion on Kate Chopin’s short story "Désirée’s Baby" in reference to four theoretical texts, which to a greater or lesser extent, can be applied to the short story of my choice. The first step will be to illustrate the theoretical concept of gender postulated by Joan W. Scott, followed by the application of this theory on Chopin’s short story by examining gender bias.
Secondly, I will explain Du Bois' concept of double consciousness and Edward Telles theory of color race. These concepts will, then, insofar it is possible, be applied to “Désirée’s Baby’’. Thirdly, the concept of a nation in the understanding of Jean-Jacques Rousseau will be analyzed. Therefore his ideal nation state will particularly be taken into account and this is followed by scrutinizing the short story for his theory to be applied to. At last, I want to point out the correlation between the represented concepts and what questions can be raised when reading the short story and applying the different theories.
In addition to developing an interpretation, this meta-discussion has the aim to exhibit that the application of a theory can produce a meaningful discussion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Use of Gender as an Analytical Tool
3. Gender Bias in “Désirée’s Baby’’
4. Color and Race: Double Consciousness
4.1 Is there a General Definition of Race Color?
4.2 Racism and Color in “Désirée’s Baby’’
5. The Concept of a Nation
6. Nation and Nation State in “Désirée’s Baby’’
7. The Correlation of Nation, Race and Gender
8. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This academic paper provides a meta-discussion on Kate Chopin’s short story "Désirée’s Baby" by applying four distinct theoretical frameworks. The primary objective is to demonstrate how various literary and social theories can provide diverse insights into a single text, revealing the constructed nature of identity categories such as gender, race, and nation.
- Application of Joan W. Scott’s gender theory to examine gender bias.
- Exploration of W.E.B. Du Bois’ concept of "double consciousness" regarding race.
- Analysis of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s theory of the nation and the general will.
- Investigation into the social construction and potential hierarchical correlation of these identity categories.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Color and Race: Double Consciousness
The excerpt “Of Our Spiritual Strivings’’ of the book The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois has the themes race and color as its main subject matters. Du Bois deals with the hierarchy of the races which obtains in the United States in the twentieth century, i.e. the subordination of the Afro-Americans and also their self-awareness within this nation.
The self-reflection of the Afro-Americans is mirrored, i.e. it is not purely their own perception, but rather merges with the image others have of them. As Du Bois states: “the Negro is […] born with a veil, and gifted with second sight* in […] a world which […] only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world.’’ (8).
It seems that to ascertain their identity, Afro-Americans have two different opinions on themselves, i.e. their own and that of the society. They cannot discard the image society wants to convey of them. It lies in the back of their head and appears to be firmly fixed in the social structure of the United States. Du Bois coined the term “double consciousness’’ (8) for that.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the purpose of the meta-discussion and introduces the four theoretical frameworks used to interpret the short story.
2. The Use of Gender as an Analytical Tool: Explains Joan W. Scott’s theory of gender as a socially constructed category that establishes power relations.
3. Gender Bias in “Désirée’s Baby’’: Applies Scott’s gender theory to the power dynamics and roles depicted between the characters in Chopin’s story.
4. Color and Race: Double Consciousness: Analyzes the racial constructs through Du Bois’ concept of "double consciousness" and Telles’ theory on the relativity of race color.
5. The Concept of a Nation: Discusses Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s theory of the "general will" and the ideal nation state.
6. Nation and Nation State in “Désirée’s Baby’’: Examines how the failure of the "general will" is reflected in the factions and hierarchies within the story's setting.
7. The Correlation of Nation, Race and Gender: Investigates the interrelation between these three socially constructed categories and whether a hierarchy exists among them.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, emphasizing the versatility of applying multiple theoretical lenses to a single text.
Keywords
Gender theory, Double consciousness, Social construction, Kate Chopin, Désirée’s Baby, W.E.B. Du Bois, Joan W. Scott, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Race relations, Nation state, General will, Power dynamics, Literary analysis, Identity, Intersectional theory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper is a meta-discussion that explores how Kate Chopin’s short story "Désirée’s Baby" can be interpreted through four specific theoretical lenses: gender, race, nation, and their interrelations.
What are the primary theoretical themes covered?
The themes include gender construction, the racial concept of double consciousness, the definition of the nation state, and the sociological impact of these categories on individual identity.
What is the central research question?
The research examines whether applying multiple theoretical frameworks to a text yields deeper insights and explores if there is a hierarchical structure or correlation between gender, race, and national identity.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author uses a qualitative, comparative, and interdisciplinary approach, applying established theoretical texts to a literary work to decode its meaning and power structures.
What is explored in the main body of the text?
The main body systematically applies concepts from Joan W. Scott, W.E.B. Du Bois, Edward Telles, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau to the characters and social environment depicted in "Désirée’s Baby".
What characterizes the research in terms of keywords?
The research is characterized by terms such as social construction, identity politics, intersectionality, power relations, and literary theory.
How does the author define the "double consciousness" in the context of the story?
The author applies Du Bois' concept to show how characters like Désirée begin to view themselves through the prejudiced eyes of society rather than their own, leading to inner conflict.
Why is Rousseau’s theory of the nation state applied to this short story?
It is used to analyze the "failure of the general will," where social factions based on race and gender create a hierarchical structure that contradicts the ideal of an equal, sovereign nation.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Chiara Widera (Autor:in), 2016, Meta-Discussion on Kate Chopin’s Short Story "Désirée’s Baby" with the Application of Four Theoretical Concepts, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/384927
