I chose to compare Rip Van Winkle’s wife and Jacqueline, or La Folle. Both of these female characters are polar opposites. Irving doesn’t give Rip’s wife a thorough introduction to her character. All we know is that she is always yelling at Rip on what to do and what he’s doing wrong. In Chopin’s story of Beyond the Bayou, La Folle is given to us in details from what she looks like and how she gotten her nickname. La Folle has more power to change the story the in whatever way she would have wanted, and she also conquered her fear of crossing the bayou. In Rip Van Winkle, Rip’s wife never had the chance to say much throughout the story, so she couldn’t have much influence on how the ending would end.
6 thoughts on “Beyond the Bayou”
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I agree with the point about how the knowledge of the main character La Folle in “Beyond the Bayou” has more impact because of the more details provided by the author which allows the character to be fleshed out. The character isn’t one dimension unlike Dame Van Winkle who’s nagging of her husband is only highlighted from the reader/husband. One dimensional characters are hard to sympathize with and don’t leave a strong impression on the plot including how and why something would happen.
I do agree with what Jordan had to say when he decided to compare both Rip Van Winkle wife and La Folle. When it came to Rip Van Winkle wife we really didn’t have enough info about her. Which meant that there was no way that the readers could sympathize with her, or even understand why she was the way she was in the story. But when it came to La Folle, we where given more of a description about her and why she got the name La Folle. By this La Folle from Beyond The Bayou was more considered as a character than how Rip Van Winkle. Which goes back to what Jordan said about how Rip’s wife could have no influence on the ending of the story than La Folle. And if she would have the ending for Rip Van Winkle would have been completely different.
I would also have to agree with the fact that since La Folle was described more in detail about her character, we are able to see the character throughout the story transition causing an impact as she conquers her fear of crossing the bayou. The lack of dimension in Dame Van Winkle, given the little details given to the reader, does not cause such an impact on the story or ending or as much as La Folle did. Although even with lack of dimension of Dame Van Winkle, her lack of existence at the end of the story since she has passed away, does impact the ending as Rip Van Winkle is happier without her nagging.
I believe the reason why Dame Van Winkle never gets properly introduced is that her behavior is nagging and grouchy– also, she isn’t the main character. Irving wanted to create a henpecked husband, easygoing and perhaps submissive as the main character. The wife represents the oppression in his life making him escape from his home; just a mere stereotype of the American wife. However in “Beyond the Bayou,” Chopin wants to break that stereotype and somehow change the image of women. Her description of La Folle fully detailed. For example, it’s stated that she lives isolated from the rest of the world. This isolation alters her physical and mental state. At the end she breaks the boundaries and her self-constriction. She is free and has survived her childhood and tough life experiences, therefore, she’s an emotionally strong woman.
(At least that’s what I think.)
That’s an interesting observation, which brings to my attention a connection of “Rip Wan Winkle” to “The Story Of An Hour” Rip and Mrs. Mallard are very similar characters. They both seem to suffer from a dysfunctional marriage, and both seems overjoyed when the see themselves free from their spouse. Although in Rip Wan Winkle we get a clearer picture of his relationship with his wife and family, and because of this we tend to side with him a little more, or at least not fault him as much for his behavior. This is lacking from “The Story Of An Hour” we know she isn’t happy, but we don’t clearly see why, we never get a view of their relationship, and because of that it becomes harder to understand her reactions.
Jacqueline or “La Folle”, in “Beyond The Bayou was described in more detail because the story itself was centered around her, and her relationship with the kids of P’tit Maitre. Specifically Cheri. Jacqueline was described as a women who lived alone, with more physical strength than most men, who made her patch of cotton and corn and tobacco like the best of them. Not only was she a independent hard worker, Jacqueline was also very caring. This is shown within the description of her relationship with Cheri. Cheri would often lay his head against her knee, or fall asleep in her arms. Even after he possessed a gun, Cheri would stop by to drop off food, and promise a huge catch for Jacqueline, from his hunting trip.