THE BLIND MAN and THE KISS by KATE CHOPIN

THE BLIND MAN

In this poignant short story, Kate Chopin follows a blind man carrying a small red box of pencils that he hopes to sell as he makes his way through the blistering heat. Unable to see the shady side of the street and struggling simply to navigate gates, steps, and doorbells, he encounters a world that largely passes him by. [americanli...rature.com]

Hungry, thirsty, and unsuccessful in selling his pencils, the man becomes the object of curiosity and harassment from children and even runs afoul of a policeman before the officer realizes that the man is blind. It is a deceptively simple story, but Chopin uses the man's difficult journey to reveal both the cruelty and occasional kindness he encounters from the sighted world. [americanli...rature.com]

THE KISS

Love, money, and a very badly timed kiss collide in this wonderfully ironic tale from Kate Chopin.

Nathalie knows that Brantain loves her, and although she isn't particularly attracted to him, Brantain possesses something she very much desires: a considerable fortune. Nathalie is prepared to marry him and enjoy the comfortable life his money can provide. [interestin...rature.com], [katechopin.org]

Unfortunately, another man named Harvy unexpectedly enters the room and kisses Nathalie right in front of Brantain. Nathalie must then convince her wealthy admirer that the kiss meant far less than it appeared to mean. Her maneuvering works well enough to get her to the altar, but Kate Chopin saves a delicious bit of irony for the end. Nathalie discovers that although she may have secured Brantain and his fortune, she hasn't necessarily succeeded in keeping everything else she wanted as well. [interestin...rature.com], [gradesaver.com]

The Kiss was written on September 19, 1894, and first published in Vogue on January 17, 1895. [katechopin.org]

1001 STORIES FROM THE GILDED AGE

Two short stories, two very different glimpses of life during America's Gilded Age, and both delivered with Kate Chopin's remarkable ability to tell us a great deal about human nature in only a few pages.

Join us for THE BLIND MAN and THE KISS by Kate Chopin, right here at 1001 Stories From the Gilded Age.