The kiss Kate Chopin Summary

Written by Kate Chopin who was born in 1850 and expired at 1904 who was an American writer. She was born in St. Louis Missouri. She is best known for the stories that are related to inner lives, woman sexuality. This story 'the kiss' is also based on woman desire for love and money. 

This is a story from Chopin's populist literature which shows female sexuality, their character and their cleverness to fulfill their emotional and financial goals. It is no secret that some women are guided by both of these motives. On the other hand, they need money and matter, and on the other hand, they also need to fulfill their emotional passions. When they do not find both in a single man, they often develop extra marital affairs. The same happens in the story, when the lady, Nathalie plays like a chess player with two men. But it ignores faithfulness and the consequence that the divided self brings.

It was still quite light out of doors, but inside it was almost dark with the curtains fully drawn. There was the fire smoldering, which was sending dim glow to Nathalie. The room at her house was full of deep shadows. Brantain was sitting in one of the shadows keeping his eyes fixed upon the lady who sat in the yellow firelight with her lovely cat on her lap.

Nathalie was a beautiful, healthy, confident and composing woman. She occasionally sent a slow glance to her companion who was frank, open and blustering without concealing anything. They were talking low in the cozy room. Brantain was enormously rich and she wanted an entourage with him. when they were at a pause, a young man, Mr. Harvy entered the room and moved towards her. Nathalie did not get any time and he gave an ardent and lingering kiss upon her lips without seeing Mr. Brantain sitting in the dark shadow. Brantain was amazed, stood up and Harvy saw him. All three of them stood up and Brantain left the room saying good buy to her and Brantain felt that possibly he stayed too long. She was extending her hands towards him, but he went away.

Then Mr. Harvy asked her to forgive him because he did not see Brantain sitting there. She shouted saying 'don't touch me, don't come near me. She told him he shouldn't have entered her room without ringing. He replied softly that he came there with her brother who went upstairs and he came to her room as she would like to have him. She was still angry and Harvy left the room.

Next day, Nathalie met Brantain and she begged forgiveness. She said that she was felling uncomfortable and miserable herself from that event . She was very frank and outspoken. She took him by the arm to the lonely streets. She requested Brantain not to misinterpret the event, the kiss with Harvy. She said that Mr. Harvy was an intimate friend of her brother and they had always been like a brother and sister, like a whole family members. She was weeping in front of him, and begging not to misunderstand her. They talked for a long time, walked together and when they came back, Brantain's face look satisfied and she was triumphant. 

At their weeding some time age, Mr. Harvy was also was one of them kissing the bride from the Bridal family. He was saying 'your husband allows me to kiss you'. He said that it is natural for men to act so generously and Brantain did not mind then. 

Being in such a condition, having one as a husband and another as a lover, she felt like being a chess player. She felt that she should fulfill her intentions by the clever handling of the two men. Her eyes were bright still looking at Harvy with soft smile. Her lips looked thirsty for 'the kiss'. But Harvy said, I've stopped kissing women, it's dangerous'. He seems to be dissatisfied with her, but she has to handle both men cleverly like a chess player. Nathalie was thinking that a single person can't have everything in the world, both the money and the passion.