Literature 2021 American Literature II

Katherine-Grace Powell

February 17, 2020

Thesis Exercise and Support #2

“The ‘Cadian Ball”

THESIS STATEMENT:

Society plays a major role in the distortion of personal perspectives by creating and supporting a

stereotypical outlook on gender nonconformity, race and social class stigma, as well as disregard

for individuals who do not meet their standards .

Society forces people to make decisions that aren’t a true representation of who they are. This

also allows the upper class and race to rule as hegemonic in social groups forcing individuals to

become victims and dependents of society.

EVIDENCE AND SUPPORT #1

“Why could he not love Ozéina, who would marry him tomorrow; or Fronnie, or any one of a

dozen others, rather than that little Spanish vixen?”(448). Calixta is discriminated against

because she is not fully Acadian, but rather mixed with Spanish blood since her mother is Cuban.

Because of her race, she is portrayed as being deserving of a poor and lower-class lifestyle, and

the community often blamed her actions on her race. Kate Choppin writes, “For that reason the

prairie people forgave her much that they would not have overlooked in their own daughters or

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sisters.”(448)This further proves that the community blamed her race for her actions. Calixta is

being defined solely on the basis that she has Spanish residing in her blood. This type of

stereotypical outlook on race causes her community to disregard her and view her as being

strange. Even though the Acadians were of lower class, their act making judgements about her

race proves that they also were discriminative and viewed her as lower-lower class.

EVIDENCE AND SUPPORT #2

“The women did not always approve of Calixta” (452). They often gossiped about their

disapproval for the way she conducted herself. With the continual blame placed on her race, they

consider her to be of a lower socioeconomic status. It is because of this social stigma why

Calixta felt as though she had to marry Bobinot. She felt that the class distinctions between both

her and Alcee were too different, and based on societal standards, this is what she was taught and

led to believe. “ You been sayin’ all along you want to marry me, Bobinot. Well, if you want,

yet, I don’ care, me” (454). Calixta has now fallen victim and is dependent upon society. Though

Bobinot was infatuated with Calixta, she does not fully return the love and faces conflict within

herself and society.

(fear of breaking the statsus quo, receiving judgement and return, desire for community

acceptance)

She is forced to choose Bobinot even though she was in love with Alcee. This is because Bobinot

belongs to the same socioeconomic class as her; and at that time, society taught them that it was

the right and only way.

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EVIDENCE AND SUPPORT #3

Inferiority between the Creoles and the Acadians is very evident in this story, which is illustrated

by the Creoles’ higher socioeconomic positions due to their race. Kate Choppin writes, “To be

sure, they knew the Laballières were rich— that there were resources East, and more again in the

city” (452). Creoles such as the Laballières family were considered wealthy people and the

Acadians were aware of their socioeconomic status. “Alcée Laballière’s presence at the ball

caused a flutter even among the men”(452). This also proves the level of respect shown towards

people of the upper class from those of a lower class setting. Members of the lower class are able

to notice when someone from the upper class attends their ball because they have high regards

for them and somewhat place them on a pedestal. They would not expect someone of such high

class to attend one of their balls.

Comparing the quotes “Alcée’s conduct was altogether chic, mais chic.That he had more

panache than Boulanger”(452) and “Bobinot himself was dull- looking and clumsy. Most of the

men were” (452), the distinction between the Creoles and the Cadians is very evident. These

statements display the dissimilarity between how an upper class and lower-class individual is

viewed particularly by the way they dress. Alcee says to Bruce, ‘“And if you come back here

with any more talk, I’ll have to break your neck’” (453). Bruce is Alcee’s servant and he treats

him as such. The way he responds to Bruce signifies that Alcee holds power over Bruce. This

exemplifies the social class stigma placed upon race. Bruce is of African American descent

which reflects his low socioeconomic status. By the way Alcee and Clarisse speak to Bruce, it is

evident that the upper-class had no respect for lower class individuals as they felt superior.

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 WORK CITED

Choppin, Kate. “The ‘Cadian Ball.” The Norton Anthology American Literature, edited by

Robert Levine, W.W. Norton & Company, 2017, pp. 448-455.