Analysis+of+The+Kiss+by+Amanda+Blanton

= Kate Chopin = **// The Kiss //**

Biography

Kate Chopin was born Kate O'Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri in 1850 to Eliza and Thomas O'Flaherty. She grew up during the civil war. She was the only child to live past the age of twenty-five. At age five and a half, she was sent to a Catholic boarding school in St. Louis. Her father was killed in a tragic train accident Then she live with her lived at home with her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, all of them widows for the next several years. Her great-grandmother made sure she had the education she needed. She was taught French, music, and the gossip on St. Louis women of the past. Kate was surrounded by intelligent, independent women until she married and moved to New Orleans. Shortly after her husband’s death in 1890, Kate and her 7 children moved back St Luis with her mother; where she began to write short stories. Chopin used her writing as a way to earn money to support her and her children. Writing short stories was not her only source of income; she owned real estate in Louisiana and St Louis. Her short stories were about people had known in Louisiana. Her first was //The Awakening// (which was eventually published in 1899). She was had hundreds of stories, essays and sketches in magazines. Kate Chopin did not only write short stories, she was also known for her novels as well.

//**The Kiss**//

One of Kate Chopin’s short stories, //The Kiss//, she wrote some time 1851-1904. //The Kiss// is about a young beautiful, out spoken, Southern girl, who seems to know exactly what she wants. She has no moral standards on satisfying her sexual and materialist wants and needs. Looking for all the good characteristics in different men to satisfy what she wants in a marriage. She unfortunately gets caught and has to choose whether she wants good looks and romance, or riches. The story starts with a description of the room and the surroundings. “…with the curtains drawn and the smouldering fire sending out a dim, uncertain glow, the room was full of deep shadows”. The setting symbolizes that maybe there are secrets hidden in the dark room, the fire and the shadows are a cover up for what is truly hidden behind Natalie’s beauty and passion. The character, Natalie, has two men that she has an interest in. Brantain…a not so attractive man, but very wealthy, is describe as a timid and quiet man. In the beginning of the story Brantain sits in the corner of the room not saying anything but just watching Natalie as she sits by the fire and strokes her cat. As the other man of interest walks in, Harvy, surprises the both of them by stealing a kiss, Brantain still just excuses himself without saying much at all. Brantian actions show his character. Harvy is a good looking young man, romantic and endearing; Natalie seems to have a deeper feeling for him than for Brantain. Harvy is more the type of man that she wants to spend her life with but doesn’t seem to be wealthy. Natalie is not the kind of woman that does not care about what she thought of to other people, she is only trying to seek what pleases her needs. Brantain who she ultimately marries, doesn’t see the kind of woman she, though she hides it well. Marrying Brantain only gives her money and maybe even the ability to have more social atmosphere. This could mean that she will have many affairs with many different men but still be able to be satisfied with marrying a man with money to live her life comfortably. Harvy who comes to their wedding seeks her out for a kiss that her newly wedded husband sent him to do but turns her down. “She felt like a chess player….” Meaning that she has been able to direct these two men in any way to get what she wants like a game piece. Harvy has decided not to play her game as he sees what or who she really is. Although Harvy has broken off their affair, surely he isn’t the only man and most likely won’t be the only chess pawn that will get played.

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[|http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/chopin.htm]

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Tonya Darr's Review of Amanda Blanton's Wiki Page

Hi Amanda, good job! Here are a few suggestions. I think your best content is in the bibliography section because it tells me facts about the author that I would have to research to find out. The section that needs the most work would by your analysis. I really feel like you need to "analyze" it a little bit more. I think you do a great job telling the story, but technically you need to break it down and describe some key elements of the story. You could break it down by headings such as Setting, characters, moral stance, theme, etc. This would also give you some white space. I see that you reference description and character but I think you need to expand on the items. Also, I think the requirement was 1000 words.

The headings should match or be similar or different enough to create a pattern. In the opening, the Biography, perhaps you could use some transitional phrases to make it flow a little better. You have short factual sentences that seem choppy at times.

The page needs a little excitement, which you could accomplish by adding some images to spice it up a little.

In regards to documentation, be sure to cite within the paragraphs if you quote, paraphrase or use ideas. Just make sure its in MLA format. Center your works cited and list your references. We are supposed to have five sources plus the image sources. Be sure to double space and indent as per the Penguin book.

After reading your wiki, I want to read this story. You make it sound very interesting. I hope this helps.

Hallie Davis’ review of Amanda Blanton’s Wiki page

Your page is a good start but I think you may want to consider adding a few things before finished. The length of course is not the 1000 minimum. Also your works cited may not be exactly what MLA requires for the types of sources that you used. Also you may need to find out if the “gradesaver” site may be considered similar to the Wikipedia and Sparknotes sites which may be prohibited. The pictures are noticeably missing and were required. I think you have a good page to work with before submitting.