The significance of the unique properties of the letter as making the entire plot possible in the first place is important to analyze. Therefore, after explaining the most important vocabulary concerning temporality in narration, I will look at the temporal structure of the short story and Chopin's use of analepses in order to convey background information on the characters.
I will also engage with significant other features of the story in terms of time vocabulary. In the last part of my paper, I will combine my findings on the temporality in the story and an interpretation to show how the construction of chronology is questioned, especially with regard to the letter, but also other themes in the story, and what these findings might reveal on the overall interpretation of the story.
Kate Chopin's "The Father of Désirée's Baby" or in short "Désirée's Baby" has so far mostly been analyzed in terms of its racial implications and its engagement with such topics as racism, passing, and miscegenation. No specific research has been done on the temporality in the story and its significance for the interpretation of the story. When reading through the short story, it becomes clear that the construction of chronology is questioned in the story and that the most important feature is the letter.
The letter as a medium as such is already ambiguous in its temporality, as it has a different relation to chronology than the fictional narration. The letter and the information it conveys first have to be written and sent, before the information can be passed on. But the letter also may be read over and over again. Thus, the letter in itself constitutes the possibility of a disruption of the chronology that usually underlies a narration.
However, in this particular short story, the letter, revealing the "truth", is placed at the very end. The usual chronology of tensed time and metrical time is thus even more questioned. It can be said that only through this ambiguous temporal role of the letter as being in two times at the same time and through presenting the option of being read at all times, the plot of the story works in the first place.
The letter simultaneously 'participates' in two temporalities: As the content of the letter is at the beginning, it is the origin of the problem, but it is only found by Armand at the very end and is, therefore, at the same time the solution to the conflict.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Main Part
- 2.1 "Désirée's Baby": Temporal Structure and Anachronies in the Story
- 2.2 Interpretation of Temporality in the Story - The Significance of the Letter
- 3. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze the temporal structure of Kate Chopin's "Désirée's Baby" and its significance for the interpretation of the story. It examines how the manipulation of chronology, particularly through the use of analepses and the ambiguous temporality of the letter, contributes to the overall narrative and thematic development. The analysis will focus on the interplay between story time and discourse time, exploring how narrative techniques shape our understanding of the characters and events.
- The role of temporality in shaping narrative and meaning in "Désirée's Baby".
- Analysis of anachronies (analepsis and ellipsis) and their impact on the story's unfolding.
- The unique temporality of the letter and its function as both origin and resolution of the conflict.
- The relationship between temporal structure and the thematic exploration of racism and identity.
- Examination of how Chopin constructs chronology and challenges traditional narrative linearity.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the paper's central argument: that the temporal structure of Kate Chopin's "Désirée's Baby," particularly the ambiguous temporality of the letter, is crucial to understanding the story's meaning. It notes the existing critical focus on the story's racial themes and highlights the lack of scholarly attention to its temporal aspects. The introduction posits that the letter's unique temporal position—existing both at the beginning (as the origin of the conflict) and the end (as its resolution)—is key to the narrative's effectiveness. It outlines the chapter's methodology, promising to explore the story's temporal structure through an analysis of analepses and other temporal features, ultimately connecting these aspects to the overall interpretation of the work.
2. Main Part: This section delves into the detailed analysis of the story's temporal structure. It begins by defining key temporal concepts from narrative theory, such as Genette's distinction between story and discourse and the concepts of analepsis and ellipsis. The analysis then proceeds to examine specific instances of anachronies in "Désirée's Baby," pointing out how Chopin strategically uses flashbacks (analepses) and omissions (ellipses) to manipulate the reader's understanding of the timeline. For example, the eighteen-year gap in Désirée's life is condensed into a single sentence, highlighting the narrative's focus on pivotal moments rather than a continuous chronological account. The chapter also considers the A-series and B-series of temporality, showing how both contribute to, and are disrupted by, Chopin's narrative choices. This section lays the groundwork for a deeper understanding of how the temporal elements contribute to the narrative's overall effect.
Keywords
Temporality, narrative structure, Kate Chopin, Désirée's Baby, analepsis, ellipsis, anachronies, letter, racism, identity, chronology, narrative time, story time, discourse time, A-series, B-series.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Temporal Structure in Kate Chopin's "Désirée's Baby"
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the temporal structure of Kate Chopin's short story, "Désirée's Baby," and its significance in interpreting the narrative. It examines how the manipulation of time, specifically through flashbacks (analepses) and omissions (ellipses), contributes to the story's themes and overall meaning.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores the role of temporality in shaping narrative meaning, analyzing anachronies and their impact on the story's unfolding. It focuses on the unique temporality of a letter within the narrative, its function as both the origin and resolution of the conflict, and the relationship between temporal structure and the thematic exploration of racism and identity. The paper also examines how Chopin constructs chronology and challenges traditional narrative linearity.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into three main parts: an introduction, a main part with detailed analysis, and a conclusion. The introduction establishes the central argument and methodology. The main part provides a detailed analysis of the story's temporal structure, including definitions of key narrative theory concepts like analepsis and ellipsis, and an examination of specific instances of anachronies in "Désirée's Baby." The conclusion summarizes the findings.
What specific aspects of temporality are analyzed?
The analysis delves into the interplay between story time and discourse time, examining how narrative techniques shape the reader's understanding. It explores the eighteen-year gap in Désirée's life and how this is presented narratively. The paper also considers the A-series and B-series of temporality and how Chopin's narrative choices impact them.
What is the significance of the letter in the story?
The paper highlights the ambiguous temporality of the letter as a crucial element. The letter's unique position—functioning as both the origin and resolution of the central conflict—is analyzed for its contribution to the narrative's overall effectiveness and impact.
What is the methodology used in this analysis?
The paper utilizes narrative theory concepts to analyze the story's temporal structure. It examines specific instances of analepses and ellipses, connecting these aspects to the overall interpretation of the work. The analysis connects the temporal aspects to the thematic exploration of racism and identity within the story.
What are the key terms used in the paper?
Key terms include: temporality, narrative structure, analepsis, ellipsis, anachronies, racism, identity, chronology, narrative time, story time, discourse time, A-series, B-series.
- Quote paper
- Katharina Gerhardt (Author), 2018, The Significance of the Letter. Temporality in "Désirée's Baby" by Kate Chopin, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/500479
