Chopin Literary Devices

Chopin is a forward thinking author who wrote for women and minorities. Racism and gender bias are problems that have continued to persist in our society despite activism attempting to rid our world of it. Identity is another problem many people have trouble muddling through.

Chopin tackles relevant issues she witnessed in her lifetime of racism, gender bias, and identity issues utilizing the literary elements of foreshadowing, irony, symbolism, figures of speech, misleading of the reader, imagery, and setting; the literary devices assist in emphasizing the expectations Armand feels he must live up to because of the responsibility of his wealthy, powerful name by exacting a harsh rule on his slaves, commanding absolute supremacy over women,

Armand’s father has won the respect of his peers, but the young Aubigny feels as though he has to prove that he is worthy of his surname. Under the enormous pressure of living up to the high expectations of his family name, he does what he feels is necessary. He has therefore established dominance by proving he is in complete control through the thorough abuse of slaves. The author’s setting of the glum, foreboding plantation gives an image in the mind that is easy to see. The plantation owner that inherited all the land from his father whose ruling was lax wants to set himself apart and let people know he is serious. Gaining respect is vital in running a business, so it enables readers to visualize the difficulties and stress and the darkness of the plantation

The first hint to his bias comes when Desiree says, “Oh, Armand is the proudest father in the parish, I believe, chiefly because it is a boy, to bear his name; though he says not,—that he would have loved a girl as well. But I know it isn’t true I know he says that to please me.” Armand places a male child on a higher pedestal than he would a female even though both are his flesh and blood. This is because a male is a viable heir who could carry his name, while a girl would one day marry off and take the name of another. The bias did not end there as he not only showed favoritism to a male heir, but furthermore controlled his wife’s mood, “When he frowned she trembled, but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God.” Since Armand is in absolute control, his moods dictate how the rest of the household feels. Desiree can only follow his lead and attempt to appease him to placate his dreadful moods, but soon she is the biggest cause of his