Trisha

  Desiree and Mrs. Sommers are two different characters living in two different time periods. They each have differences in their own sense of individuality and independence.  At the same time though, they are very similar because they are both shackled by their family and by the conformities of society.  Desiree is restrained by the racial issues of society, while Mrs. Sommers was restrained by her need to be a part of the lavish lifestyle of high society.  Both of them were shackled by their families in different ways. Desiree was shackled by her egotistical husband, Armand, and “mixed” child. Also, being adopted didn’t help matters either because Armand wouldn’t trust her background and he could use it in his accusation against her. She lost everything- her belongings, life, and her once-loving husband.  She had to live in a time where it was socially unacceptable to be of the “unwanted” African race, and having a mixed child posed problems. Mrs. Sommers was chained down by her children. She wanted them to have the best life possible with the little money that they had. She never splurged on herself, all the money she had was invested into her children.  This is why Mrs. Sommers struggles when she stumbles upon the fifteen dollars. She plans to bargain with the money and get the best deal she can with it for her kids.  Desiree feels the same way; she wants the best for her baby, no matter what social class they are in. She broke free by the restraints of society when, “her hair was uncovered and the sun's rays brought a golden gleam from its brown meshes” (Chopin). Desiree was now unlocked from the chains her husband burdened on her. She could live her life. Mrs. Sommers and Desiree struggle internally and externally. Mrs. Sommers ends up spending the fifteen dollars on herself.  <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">She buys a luxurious pair of silk stockings and a lavish outfit to go along. She no longer is thinking about her children, nor is she being frugal or economical. She lets loose her inner materialistic self and ignores her miser self. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Money is not an issue to her anymore, "she did not mind the difference of a dollar or two more in the price so long as she got what she desired“(pg 441 Chopin). When the shopping trip is over Mrs. Sommers becomes a victim of her past, encumbrance by the illusion of being rich. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Both have several differences, but are so similar in the same sense. They portray women adhering to society, and overcoming the obstacles that they faced in their lifetime.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">How are Desiree and Mrs. Sommers alike or different? **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">By: Julia and Trisha (we each did our own character) **

Question: Tom goes to the movies and returns with a description of a magician who escaped from a coffin without removing a nail. Explain how this is symbolic to Tom's life.

Answer: This is extremely symbolic to Tom's life because it's basically an analogy of how he feels. The magician is confined in a coffin, unable to move and overwhelmingly crowded. Tom's homelife, he feels, is just the same way. He's always pestered by his mother, having to take care of his sister, and provide money for the family. These are his human "nails." All he wants to do is escape. Unlike the magician in the coffin, Tom cannot escape the hardships of his life unscathed. He cannot escape his problems without removing a nail. He's going to hurt someone, if not everyone in his family, by leaving. His main problems aren't even external. They are, for the most part, internal conflicts dealing with his feelings. He's torn between leaving and and abandoning Laura, who needs him most, and staying, but being miserable. Mrs. S- I have mixed feelings about this. I feel that part of him wants to be like his father, he does want to get away, but then again he doesn't have the courage to just drop everything and leave. I think he cares a lot more than his father did, and I feel his mother is the one who worries more about Tom being like his father. It's appearant by the fact that it took him so long to leave, that he was nothing like him. I also feel though, that it was okay for Tom to leave. Not in the sense that he was his family's source of income, but in respects to Laura. I think Jim really did set her free, opening her up to be herself. Laura loves Tom, but she doesn't really need him as much anymore. She can stand on her own, and I don't think their mother saw that. So as a finally answer, no, I don't think he was worried because i feel he knew his family, especially Laura, would be okay.
 * //TZ: Very good response. And, I agree that most of his conflicts are internal; however, he does have some external. Add some DQs from the story to support. Do you think he worries about being like his father? Mrs. s//**

CP: I like your swag.

Trisha- I agree with you with about everything you wrote. I disagree with how you talked about how Tom’s conflicts are all internal. I believe they were a little bit external. He was disrespectful to his mother and when someone shows disrespect like that, they are showing external feelings because they are acting out. I agree with everything else you put though. I liked how you talked about Tom being crowded and his home life. GREAT JOB! – Julia White **//His acting out is a reaction to his internal conflict. His external conflicts would come through from external sources: his mother, his sister, his bosses, etc. Mrs. S//** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

I completely agree with what you are saying when you say that Tom can’t escape from his hardships unscathed. Although he desperately wants to be like the magician, he simply cannot. You say that he is going to possibly hurt everyone in his family, but I disagree. I think that Laura understands that Tom just needs to break free from his coffin. Jason Fosbenner **//JF: Please support your contention that Laura understands. Do you really think he can leave and not hurt his mother and father? Mrs. S//**

Nick Smart I agree with what you are saying. But when you say that his conflicts are internal I think that some of them are also external with the way his work, co-workers, and mom influence his internal feelings. When his mom nags at him it makes him want to leave even more. Overall good job though!


 * TZ: THANKS GUYS! I see what you guys are saying. I know that some of his problems are external, I just felt that most were internal. Thanks for the advice! :)**

how to quote from play --> (act #. scene #.) "(1.4) ."

1. <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: Cambria; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;">What group from the audience might be calling out these words? We feel as though the group shouting “America never was America to us,” would have to be the African Americans that were forced to come over from Africa to be slaves. <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: Cambria; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: Cambria; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Times','serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontsize: 16.0pt; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Times','serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">2. <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: Cambria; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;">What other group from the audience might be calling out these words? We feel as though this question is talking about either the immigrants or the lower class of America

by Julia White and Trisha Zuknick

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;">I Hear My Friends Singing, the varied carols I hear, <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: Calibri; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;">Chad, fighting with his bracelet and getting that cash flow, Nick, skim boarding and fishing with his fishing pole, Sam, sleeping all day and chilling with his bling and friends, Mrs. Sisemore, teaching her children and bragging about the University of Florida, Walt Whitman, writing poetry and reading books, <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: Cambria; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;">And Jason, surfing and being with Dani at Young Life.
 * I Hear My Friends Singing ** <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: Calibri; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;">

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #c0504d; font-family: Calibri; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msothemecolor: accent2;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">Statements || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">“I Hear America Singing” (words or phrases) || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">Let America Be America Again || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">Evidence ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">Evidence
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem relates a personal experience. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin;">

|| <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">He’s witnessing a bunch of people performing different everyday tasks and jobs. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem relates common experiences. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The common experiences are the everyday lives explained in the poem. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem explicitly states the message of the poem again. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">He repeats the word “singing” to emphasize and restate the message. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">Title of the poem is stated twice. The beginning of some of the stanzas <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">begin with the same few words. ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem describes a variety of events, many of which could be happening at the same time. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem indicates and states different scenarios in the people’s lives. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem is very long and states many happenings of wrong and right in America. ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poet uses elevated language. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem uses the language of the poem’s subjects. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">He speaks the way his people talk. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">He doesn’t try to use fancy words, he uses words they can understand and relate with. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem’s tone is optimistic and joyful. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">The poem’s tone begins in a pessimistic way but ends in a positive note. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">He speaks of “hard” times then in the end says, “Singing with open mouths <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">their strong melodious songs.” || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;">X || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msobidithemefont: minor-bidi;"> ||

Many characters in different stories have setbacks in their life that may cause them to be the way they are. They are shackled; shackled by an array of things, yet at the same time have the fact of being suppressed in common. Desiree, from Chopin’s "Desiree’s Baby," and George, from Steinbacks __Of Mice and Men__, share similiar qualities

<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">In “Desiree’s Baby”, the main character, Desiree, who had been adopted as a young child, married a young man named Armand. Armand is of good name and very high in stature. <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">They both have Caucasian skin and decided they want to further their family by having a baby. Their lives were great together until one day, while Desiree was laying in her room, noticed something odd about the baby. Her son and the little quadroon boy, an African American slave, looked the same in skin. “ <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">She looked from her child to the boy who stood beside him, and back again; over and over. ‘Ah!’ It was a cry that she could not help; which she was not conscious of having uttered. The blood turned like ice in her veins, and clammy moisture gathered upon her face" (Chopin). <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-spacerun: yes; msospacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Desiree hurriedly told her husband, and asked him what it meant. "It means," he answered lightly, "that the child is not white; it means that you are not white" (Chopin). This posed a humongous problem. A man of high white society, one who owns several slaves and worries about his image, bore a mixed child. Wanting nothing to do with her, Armand tells her to leave his household. Grabbing her child and letting her hair down, “…the sun's rays brought a golden gleam from its brown meshes. She did not take the broad, beaten road which led to the far-off plantation of Valmonde. She walked across a deserted field, where the stubble bruised her tender feet, so delicately shod, and tore her thin gown to shreds. She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again" (Chopin). <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-tab-count: 1; msotabcount: 1;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Desiree was shackled by the fact that she had a mixed child and an egotistical husband. Also, being adopted didn’t help matters either because Armand wouldn’t trust her background and he could use it in his accusation against her. Her life was going great until she noticed the dark skin pigment of her child. She had lost everything- her belongings, life, and her once-loving husband. <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-tab-count: 1; msotabcount: 1;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Searching through her things and burning them, Armand comes across a letter. It read, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery" (Chopin). It was a note written from his mother to his father. It was written proof that he, and not Desiree was of the unwanted slave race. Trying to save face, he had single-handedly ruined his life, as well as hers. <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-tab-count: 1; msotabcount: 1;"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">What happens to Desiree after she leaves isn’t told or known, although inferences can be made. Her shackles were broken, however, when she let her hair down and stepped out of the house. She may have been feeling bad about the day, but she was finally free, free from her prejudice husband. She could go back home and live happily with the ones who truly cared.