Ripe Figs Essay

444 Words2 Pages
“ The Theme of Contrast in Kate Chopin’s ‘Ripe Figs’ “ This essay will examine the polarities in Chopin’s short story. In order to do this we will analyze the following: restlessness versus patience; energetic versus staidness; informal versus formal; candidness versus cautiousness. The first polarity is restlessness versus patience. Chopin’s short story clearly contrasts Babette’s restlessness with Maman-Nainaine’s patience. Babette is described as “restless as a humming-bird”, while Maman-Nainaine was “as patient as the statue of la Madone” (Chopin11). The second polarity is energetic versus staidness. Babette was portrayed as an energetic girl. Her youthful energy is seen as she dances and sings. “Everyday Babette danced out to where the fig-trees were in a long line against the fence”(Chopin 11). Unlike Babette, Maman-Nainaine was in no rush with life itself. As Babette dances, Maman-Nainaine “...sat down in her stately way to breakfast”(Chopin 11). The third polarity is informal versus formal. Babette is described as being informal. “Every day she dances and walks beneath the fig-trees”(Chopin 11). In contrast, Maman-Nainaine is formal. She is dipicted as formal by the way she eats at the breakfast table. “When Maman-Nainaine sat down in her stately way to breakfast, the following morning, her muslin cap standing like aureole about her white, placid, Babette approached” (Chopin 11). The fourth polarity is candidness versus cautiousness. Babette was full of honest sincere expressions throughout the short story. For example, as she went to check for the figs she danced her way or in the dialogue in the end of the story when she mentioned her opinion quickly after her godmother’s opinion (Chopin 11). Babette’s desire to hurry the process of the figs makes her childish and candid.In contrast, Mamane-Nainaine is older and

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