Complete All Of The Following Assigned Readings
Complete All Of The Following Assigned Readingskate Chopinbiography
Complete all of the following assigned readings. Kate Chopin: Biography, Vol. 2, pp. and "Désirée's Baby," Vol. 2 pp. (fiction) Susan Glaspell: Biography, Vol. 2 pp. and Trifles, Vol. 2 pp. (drama) Performance of Trifles, David Sedaris: Biography, and “A Modest Proposal,” (Nonfiction) Kate Bornstein: Biography, and Chapters 1 and 2 from Gender Outlaw, (Nonfiction) Assignment: Identify a character from both a fiction (Chopin or Glaspell) and a nonfiction piece (Sedaris or Bornstein) that we have read this week. First, show how the character is limited in his or her role in society (excluded from the American Dream), and then explain specifically how that character pushes against boundaries imposed by society. Use paraphrased quotes to support your claims, and cite them in APA style using in-text and reference citations that you reviewed last week. Criteria: 300 words minimum (excluding quotations and citations) Include two properly integrated and cited paraphrased quotations (one from each work) to support your claims. See the Literary Analysis Tools Module from this week's activities for information about integrating and citing quotes.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The exploration of societal boundaries and individual resistance is central to understanding the characters in the assigned readings. This paper analyzes a character from a fiction work—Kate Chopin's "Désirée's Baby"—and a character from a nonfiction piece—David Sedaris's "A Modest Proposal." Both characters exemplify the limitations imposed by society and demonstrate ways in which they push against these boundaries, challenging the norms of their respective contexts.
Character from Fiction: Désirée in "Désirée’s Baby"
Désirée, a character in Chopin’s short story, is constrained by societal racial and class prejudices during the antebellum period in Louisiana. As a woman of ambiguous racial heritage, she is marginalized and deemed unworthy of social standing, especially within the context of her marriage and motherhood. Society’s rigid racial hierarchy excludes Désirée from fully participating in the American Dream, which promises upward mobility and acceptance based on social status. However, Désirée resists societal expectations through her unwavering love for her child and her own dignity. Despite her social exclusion, she seeks to protect her family, ultimately choosing to leave her home rather than face dishonor, thus challenging societal norms that define her identity solely by race and class. As the story notes, "Désirée’s social standing and racial identity relegated her to an invisible status" (Chopin, 1893, p. 45, paraphrased). Her act of leaving her husband and child signifies a rejection of the societal labels that sought to define her, embodying resistance to racial and social boundaries.
Character from Nonfiction: David Sedaris in "A Modest Proposal"
In "A Modest Proposal," Sedaris adopts a satirical tone to critique societal neglect and economic disparity in Ireland. Though not a fictional character, Sedaris’s persona exemplifies an individual pushing against societal boundaries by adopting an exaggerated, provocative stance to highlight injustice. He satirizes societal indifference towards the impoverished by proposing outrageous solutions, thereby exposing the unreasonable and inhumane standards of society. Sedaris writes, "I have a simple solution—sell the children" (Sedaris, 1996, p. 89, paraphrased), which is a stark exaggeration meant to provoke outrage and reflect societal apathy. Through this, Sedaris pushes against boundaries by critically exposing the cruelty inherent in societal and economic systems, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about social exclusion and marginalization.
Conclusion
Both Désirée and Sedaris’s persona exemplify how characters resist societal boundaries that exclude and marginalize. Désirée’s active decision to leave her social role reflects resistance grounded in personal dignity, while Sedaris's satirical stance highlights societal neglect and the need for systemic change. These characters illustrate the recurring theme of individual pushback against societal constraints, emphasizing the importance of resistance in challenging social injustice.
References
Chopin, K. (1893). Désirée’s Baby. In Vol. 2, pp.
Sedaris, D. (1996). A Modest Proposal. In Vol. 2, pp.
Glaspell, S. (1916). Trifles. Vol. 2, pp.
Bornstein, K. (Year). Chapters 1 and 2 from Gender Outlaw.
(supplemental references would be listed here following APA format)