Chopin Thesis Activity

Thesis #1: Chopin construction of the character of Mrs. Mallard describes her as a weak oppressed woman who is controlled by her husband. The description in the beginning of the story: “as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been” gives the reader an image of a small powerless woman.

Thesis #2: Chopin uses “life” to explain the new found freedom that Mrs. Mallard experienced when she found out that her husband had died. “There no one to live for her during those coming years; she would life for herself.” Chopin also uses death as the loss of freedom she had when Mr. Mallard turned up alive.

Prof. Blunk's feedback:

Well, yes, you have cited an example of the author's use of the literary element of character in the story, but it doesn't exactly connect to the thesis idea of a "struggle for equality." Always try to explain the connection between your citation of the literary element and the thesis idea (meaning that was created). In the second attempt, again, you are citing examples of the imagery, but you haven't exactly connected the contrasting imagery to the thesis idea of a struggle against societal pressures.