DISCUSS WOMEN'S POSITION IN THE 19TH CENTURY AS POTRAYED BY TWO SHORT STORIES, COMPARE AND CONTRAST.

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DISCUSS WOMEN’S POSITION IN THE 19TH CENTURY AS POTRAYED BY TWO SHORT STORIES, COMPARE AND CONTRAST.

      ‘The Necklace’ and ‘Desiree’s Baby’, are both short stories. In the 19th century short stories were a popular form of art, because they were a convenient way for writers to put across their views. They were used as a medium to entertain, and comment on human nature. Which is similar to ‘Desiree’s Baby’, a woman with no origin, but her beauty is left to fit into a southern American society, where a lot is expected from women.

       Women in the 19th century did not have the same social opportunities as many women today. Wealthy women, with money for a dowry, could expect to marry well; also it was easier for them to live in Deep South Alabama, and in France. This was the case in ‘The Necklace’. Mme Loisel, who is the heroine, without dowry settles for a middle-class man.

       But for poor women, they found life difficult in places, like France and could expect to marry badly. In 19th century Alabama, many rich people were salve owners which meant racial prejudice, against black people were high, this is one of the themes explored in ‘Desiree’s Baby’.

      Guy de Maupassant, in his story deals with women’s position in society, and the great diversity between the social classes. Similar to Maupassant, Kate Chopin deals with roles of women in society, and prejudice shown by whites to other races.

       Maupassant deals with the expectations of women in society; he writes “women have neither rank nor class”. He’s saying that women have to depend on their beauty, and dowry, this is what the word “rank” signifies. Metaphorically the word “class” could mean dignity, what he’s saying is that society has taken women’s dignity away from them, because they have to depend on the men to be able to get a good social class. This is what leads to Mme Loisel wanting a better life for herself, and believing the best class to be, is to be an aristocrat. This leads to her struggling to fit into her society.

        Guy de Maupassant based the story on real events that were happening “post revolutionary France.”  The revolution (1789) has promised a new beginning in French society, but by Maupassant’s time a new aristocracy had been created, and the poor were just as badly off. Perhaps He used his main character to warn French people about social inequality that was going on in France and to give a moral story about contentment.

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        In 19th century Alabama, wives, and mothers had one role; and that was to keep her family together. However this was impossible when Armand refuses to accept Desiree, “Armand has told me that I am not white”. She has been rejected by her husband. Due to ill-fated circumstances; she has been driven out of her home. As a woman at the time society will be against her for leaving her husband’s home. This will make the readers feel sorry for Desiree, because of the pressure society puts on women to be good wives.

        Chopin and Maupassant’s characters are similar in many ...

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