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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Use of Gender as an Analytical Tool
- Gender Bias in “Désirée's Baby”
- Color and Race: Double Consciousness
- Is there a General Definition of Race Color?
- Racism and Color in “Désirée's Baby”
- The Concept of a Nation
- Nation and Nation State in “Désirée's Baby”
- The Correlation of Nation, Race and Gender
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to analyze Kate Chopin's short story “Désirée's Baby” by applying four theoretical concepts. It aims to demonstrate how the application of different theories can lead to a meaningful discussion and offer new perspectives on the text.
- The use of gender as a tool to analyze the text, exploring the culturally constructed nature of gender and its impact on power relations.
- The examination of gender bias in "Désirée's Baby", focusing on the traditional gender roles and expectations prevalent in the 19th century.
- The exploration of W.E.B. Du Bois's concept of double consciousness and Edward Telles's theory of color race, applying them to the story's depiction of race and racism.
- The application of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of a nation and nation state to the story, analyzing its implications for the characters and their social context.
- The investigation of the correlation between nation, race, and gender in "Désirée's Baby", highlighting how these concepts intersect to create a complex social hierarchy.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of literary theories as a means of understanding and interpreting texts. It outlines the purpose and structure of the paper, which involves applying four theoretical concepts to Kate Chopin's "Désirée's Baby."
- The Use of Gender as an Analytical Tool: This chapter analyzes Joan Wallach Scott's concept of gender as a culturally constructed category that reflects power relations. It explores the four elements of gender: cultural symbols, normative concepts, politics, and subjective identity. It also examines how gender is used to legitimize inequalities based on sex.
- Gender Bias in “Désirée's Baby”: This chapter applies Scott's gender theory to Chopin's short story, focusing on the traditional gender roles and expectations evident in the characters' behavior and interactions. It explores the impact of these roles on the characters' lives, specifically highlighting the subordination of women to men.
- Color and Race: Double Consciousness: This chapter introduces the theoretical concepts of double consciousness and color race. It explores the complexities of defining race and color, and the ways in which these concepts are used to create and reinforce social hierarchies. It also examines how these concepts apply to the story and its characters.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the application of literary theories to the short story "Désirée's Baby" by Kate Chopin. Key themes and concepts include gender, gender bias, double consciousness, color race, nation, and the intersectionality of these concepts in creating social hierarchies.
- Quote paper
- Chiara Widera (Author), 2016, Meta-Discussion on Kate Chopin’s Short Story "Désirée’s Baby" with the Application of Four Theoretical Concepts, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/384927
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