anglais by the river side by Kate Chopin

« What we have here is an excerpt from the short story « A Shameful Affair » entitled « by the river side », written by Kate Chopin in 1891.

Kate Chopin is an American writer who is known as one of the first feminist writer.

The story is about Mildred, a rich girl, who met a young farmhand by the river side.

They belong to different social classes, but still find interest in each other.

The two of them were spending time fishing along the river, when the young man kissed Mildred.

To what extend can we say that Mildred is standing up against social classes by letting the farmhand kissing her? Mildred, a young rich and well-educated girl, comes across a young farmhand, during her promenade along the river.

Apparently, it is not the first time that the two young people see each other.

The young farmhand, who is not named in the excerpt, had annoyed Mildred with his boldness the first time they met.

However, Mildred approaches the man when she meets him by the river side.

The man seems to not give attention to Mildred.

She insists on staying with him and watching him fishing although she doesn’t think highly of him.

Mildred and the farmhand kissed each other.

Indeed something had happened between them.

The kiss that he gave her made her feel ashamed not indignant.

It means that she must feel ashamed of what she feels toward him.

Mildred may have been fallen in love with the farmhand before they met by the riverside. Unfortunately, the legitimacy of their relationship is compromised.

As a matter of fact, they are poles apart since they were brought up in and belong to two entirely different social classes worlds.

Mildred belongs to the upper class whereas he belongs to the working class.

At that time, it was frowned upon to associate with someone who was not of the same social status as us.

Although they are breaking social and moral conventions, Mildred is so surprised when he kisses her that she does nothing to resist.

After the kiss, both are aware that they’ve crossed a border that shouldn’t.... »