The Stance of Women in Kate Chopin's Short Story "The Kiss"

Kate Chopin is an American author distinguished for her feminist stance, exploring the outlook of women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through her novels and short stories. While her short story 'The Kiss' may not be as popular as her novel 'The Awakening,' it unveils the gender roles imposed on women by society and their choices following these roles. The story introduces the concealed theme of rebellion, wherein Nathalie, the protagonist, grapples between two phases of self-realization.

The story was written in the late 19th century, during a time when marriage was considered significant, and women's primary role was perceived as getting married and taking care of their babies, regardless of their interests and qualities beyond their role as wives. Kate Chopin, as a feminist writer, objected to these societal norms dictated by patriarchy, portraying the mental and physical effects on women representative of this era. Nathalie, the key character in these conditions, highlights the importance of marriage as her only chance to elevate her social class and her living standards, rather than following her heart and passion. Even though Nathalie pursues the rational choices she believes in, her actions display her rebellion against the obligations taking place in her society, which is constituted by societal norms.

The story revolves around Nathalie and two other characters, Brantain and Harvy. Brantain is her suitor, a wealthy man, and Harvy is the one Nathalie truly loves. However, he doesn't meet the ideal man in Nathalie’s mind due to financial and social inadequacies. Nathalie desires both Harvy’s affection and Brantain’s wealth. In the first scene, Nathalie icily strokes the cat in her lap, externalizing her inner conflict between Harvy and Brantain. When Harvy kisses her, she does not withdraw or resist due to her feelings for him, even with Brantain’s presence. However, she explains the kiss as an innocent, cousin-like gesture, downplaying her involvement with Harvy to prioritize her desire for Brantain’s affluence. Upon Brantain’s proposal, she accepts without hesitation. Yet, as the story progresses, even when she is about to get married, she is prepared to respond to Harvy’s second kiss attempt. The apparent contradiction between what she says and does demonstrates her rebellion against the obligations and expectations imposed on her, and perhaps her first attempt to change her role. Her positive response to the kiss reveals her desire to pursue what she truly wants and to be with the one she loves.

Back then, women couldn't even access someone to take care of their house if they weren't wealthy; marrying someone could transform this disadvantage into an advantage. Nathalie, is a beautiful woman actively participating in social occasions, yearning for a change in identity to attain the property and status not dissimilar to those of Brantain. Despite her passion, she considers becoming the wife of a wealthy man to take precedence over what she desires, and she cannot have everything in life. She comes to this realization through Harvy’s refusal to kiss Nathalie, which projects her external challenge rooted in her inner conflicts between the identity the era makes out of her and the path she could have forged by herself.

In the short story, Nathalie makes her decision by prioritizing her comfort to be granted. Kate Chopin portrays her as a woman torn between two fates. By choosing wealth over feelings, this illustrates that societal standards, norms, and approvals have a massive impact on women’s internal and external experiences. During this era, the limitations faced by women compelled them to choose between enduring misery or embracing a luxurious life. Nathalie’s decisions reveal her role as a woman must be purged from her desires, otherwise, the lack of conformity and financial stability will lead to her ultimate misery.