Kate Chopin

Full Novel Discussion (NAAL edition)

Do you have any questions, theories, things you want to talk about?

The last two pages!  (Edna has returned to Grand Isle.)

• Is Edna’s suicide deliberate and planned?
• Reference to earlier conversation with Adele -- p. 722 / pp. 669-670
• Reference to earlier “voice of the sea” -- p. 722 / p. 643
• Reference to Reisz / bird with the broken wing -- p. 722 / p. 698
• Is it important that Edna is naked in this scene?
• Reference to earlier “touch of the sea” -- p. 723 / p. 643
• Reference to terror of first night swimming -- p. 723 / p. 654
• Reference to blue-glass meadow -- p. 723 / pp. 645-646
• Reference to Reisz’s words about artists -- p. 723 / p. 682
• Reference to Robert’s last words -- p. 723 / p. 720
• Reference to the cavalry officer -- p. 723 / p. 646
• The ending was FORESHADOWED -- p. 652

Edna’s last conversation with Dr. Mandelet -- pp. 719-720

Edna’s presence at Adele’s pregnancy -- pp. 718-719

Edna’s last conversation with Robert -- pp. 716-718

References to “fate” (literary naturalism) in this novel (SEE website pages):

• p. 715 x2
• p. 714 *
• p. 674
• p. 659
• p. 642
• p. 637 *

References to “sex” in this novel:

• p. 714
• p. 705
• p. 698 x2

References to “hands” in this novel:

• p. 645 -- with Adele
• p. 681 -- with Reisz *
• p. 696 -- with Reisz
• pp. 692-693 -- with Arobin
• p. 704 -- with Victor
• p. 713 -- with Robert
• p. 717 -- with Robert

Edna’s husband has Dr. Mandelet over for dinner -- pp. 687-688

• The doctor’s story -- p. 688
• Edna’s story -- p. 688
• Edna and Robert’s experience -- p. 663

Edna and her father go to the races with Arobin and Mrs. Highcamp -- pp. 687, 690

• Dr. Mandelet fears Arobin -- p. 688
• 1st Arobin mention -- p. 648
• 1st Highcamp mention -- p. 673

Connections to Henry James’ Daisy Miller:

• p. 714
• p. 648
• Both female characters do things against society and die because of it!
• Robert = Winterbourne?
• Arobin = Giovanelli?

We never “evaluated” James’ novel.  Was it a “good read”?  Was it of high quality?

What about Chopin’s novel?  Was it a “good read”?  Was it of high quality?