The Locket, by Kate Chopin, at first appears to be another love story that superficially speaks of the angst suffered from separated lovers. However, a deeper analysis is crucial in order to decipher the deeper meaning and themes of this story. The author employs many literary elements that paths the way leading to the unpredictability of the conclusion. At first reading the story I did not see the mystery. However, after re-reading the lesson and studying various other sources, I came to realize that there are many lesson taught which lead me to be surprised by the ending. The themes of separation and loyalty figure prominently at the beginning of the story. The separation occurs when Edmund has to go off to war. He and Octavia …show more content…
The locket is significant because one gets the idea that something important and special is going to be associated with it. The author is using the literary element of foreshadowing when describing the locket. In the lesson, a soldier said, "Thats a charm; some kind of hoodo business that one o'them priests gave him to keep him out o'trouble." This implies that the locket may have magical capabilities. This leads me to believe that the end of the story will have a happy conclusion. Another example in the story that makes the ending predictable is when Octavia and Edmund's father are riding together. He tells her to remove her veil. At first, she was very confused and anxious about this, but out of respect, she does take the veil off. He states, "On such a beautiful spring day one can only believe in miracles." Again, foreshadowing comes in to play. This made me believe that Edmund will return alive. The setting is important. As cited in www.gradesaver.com, "The setting foreshadows Edmund's unanticipated and figurative resurrection. He died in Autumn, but was re-born in spring." Spring is the time when flowers grow and the earth is alive. Autumn and winter signify death and dying until the seasons change once
One soldier even suggests that the locket is a lucky charm for Edmond, seeing as though he has never even gotten a scratch from battle. This foreshadowing made the ending more predictable because the story continues to lead up to Edmond’s “death” when it has already been discussed that Edmond has never been injured from battle. Though it would’ve been very ironic if Edmond were really dead because of how “lucky” the locket is; that’s not the case here. The locket was introduced to the readers as being lucky, so throughout the story it is then seen as Edmond’s good luck charm, so obviously in the end he would reveal himself as
the feeling I get when I read this short story is one of mystery. The author sets the stage for this right from the very beginning when she describes the locket as some sort of good luck charm. When one of the men says "That's a charm; some kind of hoodoo business that one o' them priests gave him to keep him out o' trouble."
For the wife, Louise Mallard, this was an awakening of a new life. This new life is cut short as the information that led her to believe this news turns our false. Kate Chopin reveals that even the desire for love is trumped by the need for freedom and independence, through her use of precise diction and syntax, and symbolism. (rewrite)
Upon hearing this, Edmund presents himself as sympathetic and supportive towards Gloucester. After his father leaves, Edmund reveals to the reader his true intentions of betraying his father and taking his title. This abrupt transformation of attitude and objective is part of the theme of “Appearance vs Reality.” Although he appears to be loyal and innocent to Gloucester, the reality is that he is planning to overthrow Gloucester and is apathetic towards his
The locket being stolen was predictable because of Edmond's battles as a Confederate soldier. In the story there was only one known detail about a recent battle and it was in part one. There was a deceased soldier boy which implies that there was a recent battle. The text states, "Around his neck hung a gold chain and locket." and out of that information you can predict that is Octavie's locket. If it is Octavie's locket that means that the boy either stole it from Edmond as an enemy or an
There are numerous great authors from the 1800’s but the one who stands out most to me would have to Mrs. Kate Chopin. She was a misinterpreted writer whose works are now respected by many. Kate Chopin, born Catherine (Kate) O’Flaherty, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 8, 1850. Kate was mentored by many women during the course of her youth. She had trauma through her young years. Chopin’s father was killed in 1855 in a railroad accident, 1863 her great grandmother died, and later her half-brother died in the war once he was apprehended by Union forces and died of typhoid fever. In 1870 Catherine O’Flaherty came to be Mrs. Kate Chopin when she married Oscar Chopin. They had kept their love a secret until they were meant to marry.
Kate Chopin's depiction of “The Awakening” is realistic as she develops Edna Pontellier’s character from a socially and morally respectable individual to an individual that turns her back on everything closest to her as she births her new self-being. Edna Pontellier struggles between her subconscious and conscious thoughts as unusual feelings stir unfounded emotions and senses. Some of Chopin’s characters lend themselves in Edna’s “awakening”. Through examination of Leonce Pontellier, Robert Lebrun, Madame Moiselle Reisz, Adele Ratignolle, and Alcee Arobin the life of Edna Pontellier turns into her ultimate death. The relationship she has with each one of these characters influences and initiates a lost feeling
Edmund is a very controversial character in the novel. Some readers may understand that he is a boy running on desire , while others may just view him as the antagonist of the story . Regardless , Edmund shows many traits of guilt. One of the traits that Edmund showed of guilt is when he realized all of the suffering that he has put his family through. “ The only way to comfort himself new was to try to believe that the whole was a dream and that he might wake up at any moment. And as they went on , hour
In the letter, the priest said he had found a body with the locket around his neck making the assumption it was Edmund. This gave the readers a feeling that the assumption was true. Thus, everyone believed that he was dead and that there was no turning back for Octavia. It made everyone feel as if the story was over. The author tricked the readers as no one suspected at this part of the story that Edmund was still alive or that the boy from the campfire stole the locket from Edmund because he thought it was a good luck
“The beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing” (Chopin 67). Change: the most frightening word in the English language; it has never came quickly, never came easily, never come without casualties. Throughout history, countless revolutions have fought with blood, sweat, and tears for the acceptance of new ideas to foster change within mainstream culture. Naturally, there is always a resilient resistance to revolution, the norm that does not embrace the change. In American history, there have been countless revolutions, from civil rights to the American revolution itself, but perhaps the longest, drastic revolution is the feminist revolution that began in the late 1800’s and arguably still happening as the gender wars. At the turn into the 20th Century, the fight between gender roles and individuality was manifested in the culture which was reflected in the reception of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening as she intentionally manipulated gendered language throughout the text.
Author Kate Chopin of The Awakening theorizes “That outward existence which conforms, the inward life that questions.” Margaret Atwood ponders upon this ideal in her Bildungsroman Cat’s Eye, in which protagonist Elaine Risley of a unique upbringing encounters life in a traditional school, in which her intrinsic values are tested by her so-called peers Cordelia, Grace, and Carol. The social conformity Elaine was forced to undergo caused her to lose herself in the process, creating the plot of the novel. Elaine’s changes in interaction, internal struggle of morality among her peers, and lack of supervision created the depressed state she portrayed throughout the novel. Had this deterioration of the self not been included in Cat’s Eye, the work
First, in the first scene the soldier jokes with Edmond that his locket protects him. While I was reading this I expected Edmond to be safe because he is protected by the locket. As Edmond said to Nick "I don't know how I could have gone through this year and a half without it." Since Edmond was fighting for the Confederates, it was important for him to carry around a talisman for protection. The locket also symbolizes Octavie’s love protecting Edmond.
Kate Chopin went through a great amount of obstacles coming up as a child and an adult. She was born on February 8, 1850 in St. Louis, MO. Growing up around her surroundings made her the wise writer that she was. Chopin was sent off to school by her parents and her dad passed away while she was there. After her husband passed, she felt overwhelmed by all the deaths in family. All those tribulations shaped her into the writer she became.
The locket is a great short story about two lovers and one sent off to war (Edmund), while his significant other (Octavie) stays home and waits for his arrival. One tragic day she sees that Edmund’s body is in a casket. He has died. Judge Pillier helps her grieving. But her grieving may be enough for him to cheer her up. But is Octavie asking for more than she can bite off?
This essay will focus on the short story by Kate Chopin and its use of symbols, setting and characters. Desiree’s baby was perhaps one of the best stories I’ve ever read. Analyzing it was not easy at all. Its use of symbols was very hard to comprehend. At first, it doesn’t make sense. But as you think critically, all the symbols, and setting and the characters in this literature plunge together in one amazing story.