Madame Célestin's Divorce by Kate Chopin
"Madame Célestin's Divorce" is a short story by Kate Chopin that explores the struggles of a young Creole housewife, Madame Célestin, as she contemplates divorcing her abusive husband. The narrative unfolds through the interactions between Madame Célestin and her lawyer, Mr. Paxton, who becomes infatuated with her while encouraging her to seek freedom from her oppressive marriage. The story highlights Madame Célestin's resilience and the societal pressures she faces, particularly from her Catholic family, which vehemently opposes divorce due to religious beliefs.
Despite her husband’s neglect and mistreatment, Madame Célestin initially grapples with the fear of familial shame and societal judgment. As she navigates the emotional turmoil of her situation, Paxton’s feelings for her complicate the dynamic, adding layers of personal desire to her quest for independence. Ultimately, the narrative examines themes of self-determination and the constraints of cultural and familial expectations on women, as Madame Célestin's journey takes an unexpected turn when her husband promises to change, leading her to reconsider her decision. This story captures the intricacies of love, social norms, and the pursuit of autonomy within the framework of late 19th-century Southern society.
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Madame Célestin's Divorce by Kate Chopin
First published: 1894
Type of plot: Regional, sketch
Time of work: The 1890's
Locale: Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Principal Characters:
Madame Célestin , a Creole housewife and mother of two childrenMr. Paxton , a lawyer
The Story
"Madame Célestin's Divorce" relates several brief encounters between the title character and a lawyer, Mr. Paxton, through an omniscient narrator. The plot revolves around Paxton's growing infatuation with the very attractive Madame Célestin, while he counsels her to divorce Célestin, her abusive husband. As is typical in most of Kate Chopin's writing, the characters' emotional situations, as well as their regional idiosyncrasies, direct the outcome of the plot.
The story begins with a description of Madame Célestin, a young Creole housewife, busy with her daily morning task, which is sweeping her front steps and patio. She is prettily attired in a calico wrapper with a pink bow at her throat. Mr. Paxton passes her house on the way to his law office and stops to chat with Madame, whose charm and beauty do not escape his notice.
Madame Célestin is an open, talkative, woman who is not afraid to express her opinion or discuss her personal problems. The whole town is aware of how much she suffers at the hands of her husband, who drinks and has been absent for nearly six months. To support herself and her two children, she takes in sewing and gives music lessons. Paxton, appalled by this neglect and aware that Célestin has also beaten her, advises her to seek a divorce. She agrees that her husband's treatment of her is shameful and seriously entertains the idea of ending her marriage.
After a few days, Paxton asks Madame Célestin if she has thought more carefully about divorce. She tells him she does want one but faces serious opposition from her family, which is firmly against a divorce for religious reasons. Her mother tells her that she will bring shame on the family and sends her to seek advice from the priest. Paxton worries that she will lose her resolve in the face of these powerful persuasive forces, but she assures him that, indeed, their protests make her even more determined. Even a tearful visit with the bishop, who remonstrates that she is obligated to practice self-denial, does not dissuade her. She assures Paxton that because no one can understand what she has endured, no one can force her to stay married to her neglectful husband.
Encouraged by her resolve, Paxton allows his feelings for the pretty and vivacious Madame to surface. He spends the next few days improving his appearance, while contemplating what life will be like when they are married. He realizes that the Creole community would not condone her divorce and remarriage but believes they could be happy elsewhere. Paxton's hopes are dashed one morning, when, stopping for his usual chat, he finds Madame more reserved and less self-assured than on previous meetings. He notices, however, that her complexion seems rosier than ever. She tells Paxton that she has changed her mind about the divorce. Célestin, its seems, returned the night before and has promised, once again, to reform and be a good husband.
Bibliography
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Bonner, Thomas, Jr. The Kate Chopin Companion. New York: Greenwood Press, 1988.
Boren, Lynda S., and Sara de Saussure Davis, eds. Kate Chopin Reconsidered: Beyond the Bayou. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1992.
Koloski, Bernard. Kate Chopin: A Study of the Short Fiction. New York: Twayne, 1996.
Petry, Alice Hall, ed. Critical Essays on Kate Chopin. New York: G. K. Hall, 1996.
Skaggs, Peggy. Kate Chopin. Boston: Twayne, 1985.
Stein, Allen F. Women and Autonomy in Kate Chopin's Short Fiction. New York: Peter Lang, 2005.
Taylor, Helen. Gender, Race, and Religion in the Writings of Grace King, Ruth McEnery Stuart, and Kate Chopin. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1989.
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Toth, Emily. Unveiling Kate Chopin. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1999.