ayed as cold, calculating, pragmatic and willing to accept the cultural values and norms of their society. The contrast between the female protagonist Calixta and the secondary female character Clarisse, bear this out. Calixta is symbolic of sexual expression for women, while Clarisse represents sexual repression.
The four main characters are the two women, and the two men in their lives. Alcee, who is a handsome, fair, charming, sophisticated upper class planter, and Bobinot who is a brown, good natured, uneducated and plodding farmer. What the two men have in common is that initially Calixta is unattainable to Bobinet, and Clarisse seems unattainable to Alcee, her cousin.
Calixta is described as slender, vibrant and tantalizing, with the "Spanish..in her blood. For that reason the prairie people forgave her much that they would not have overlooked in their own daughters or sisters" (Chopin 261). Clarisse is described as "Dainty as a lily; hardy as a sunflower, slim, tall, graceful. . .Cold and kind and cruel by turn, and everything that was aggravating to Alcee" (Chopin 264).
Alcee is attracted to Calixta's sensuality. The two had met by accident in Assumption the previous year, and the story insinuated that they had a flirtation and most likely passionate kisses, but were not lovers. Calixta is a virgin, and realizes that marriage, not love aff
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