The central idea of the story is about a woman’s clever use of charm and manipulation to get what she wants in life — wealth and social status — even if it means sacrificing true love.
Nathalie wants to marry Brantain because he is rich, not because she loves him. At the same time, she enjoys the passion and attention from Harvy. When things go wrong after Harvy kisses her in front of Brantain, she quickly comes up with a story to protect her chance of marrying Brantain. In the end, she succeeds in marrying him but loses Harvy, showing that you cannot have everything in life. You must sometimes choose between love and security.
The story highlights themes such as love versus money, personal ambition, and the choices people make between comfort and success.
Summary
The story begins in a dimly lit room where a man named Brantain sits in the shadows, watching a young woman named Nathalie. The warm firelight reveals that Nathalie is a striking and confident woman. She calmly strokes her cat while occasionally glancing at Brantain, who is clearly in love with her. Though their conversation is superficial, both know deeper emotions are at play. Nathalie is aware that Brantain, a plain but extremely wealthy man, is about to propose, and she is ready to accept. She values the comfort and social status that his wealth can provide.
However, their private moment is abruptly interrupted when a man named Harvy enters the room unexpectedly and kisses Nathalie passionately on the lips. He doesn’t see Brantain sitting in the shadows and is shocked when he realises someone else is present. Brantain is embarrassed and hurt by the kiss, thinking it reveals a romantic relationship between Nathalie and Harvy. He stammers a goodbye and leaves, while Nathalie, caught off guard, doesn’t stop him.
After Harvy tries to justify his actions, Nathalie angrily scolds him for entering unannounced and causing a scene. Harvy defends himself by saying he came in with her brother through a side entrance, not knowing she had a visitor. He pleads for forgiveness, but Nathalie is visibly upset and tells him it depends on many things whether she’ll forgive him.
At the next social reception, Nathalie approaches Brantain. She smiles and asks to speak with him privately. Although he looks sad, he agrees, and they walk to a quiet corner. Nathalie explains that Harvy is just a longtime family friend, almost like a brother, and that the kiss meant nothing. She appears emotional and insists that she deeply cares about what Brantain thinks of her. Brantain is relieved and pleased to hear this, and as they walk together down a corridor, his face is full of happiness, while Nathalie appears victorious.
The story fast-forwards to their wedding, where Harvy is among the guests. He finds Nathalie alone and says Brantain has sent him over to kiss her, suggesting he wants their past friendship to continue. Nathalie is surprised but pleased, seeing the situation like a chess game where she has skillfully controlled every move to win. She smiles and looks eager for the kiss.
However, Harvy coolly replies that he has stopped kissing women because it’s dangerous, implying he no longer wishes to be part of any emotional complications.
In the end, Nathalie is left with Brantain and his wealth, but without Harvy's affection. The story closes with a sharp reflection: "A person can’t have everything in this world, and it was a little unreasonable of her to expect it."
Interpretation
The story shows how some people make choices in life based on personal gain rather than true feelings. Nathalie is not in love with Brantain, but she chooses to marry him because he is rich and can give her a comfortable life. She enjoys the passion and closeness with Harvy, but she knows he cannot offer her what she wants in terms of wealth and security.
When her plan is almost ruined by Harvy’s kiss, she quickly tells Brantain a false but believable story to protect her image. This shows that Nathalie is clever, but also selfish and manipulative. She uses her charm and words to control the situation and get what she wants.
In the end, she wins Brantain and his money, but loses Harvy and love. The final lines suggest that life does not give everything to anyone: you may gain one thing, but lose another. The story also reflects on how people sometimes choose money and position over love and honesty.
It’s a thoughtful look at human nature, choices, and the price of ambition.
Understanding
1. What is the connotation of "deep shadows" in the first paragraph?
The "deep shadows" suggest a quiet, private, and possibly mysterious atmosphere. It also hints at hidden emotions or secrets, especially since Brantain is sitting there, watching Nathalie without being clearly seen.
2. Why does Brantain not mind sitting in the shadows?Brantain is shy and feels more comfortable in the shadows because they give him courage to look at Nathalie closely without feeling too exposed or nervous.
3. What is the relationship between Brantain and Nathalie?
Brantain is in love with Nathalie and wants to marry her. Nathalie plans to accept his proposal, not out of love, but because he is rich and can provide her with a comfortable life.
4. Why is Nathalie angry with Harvy? Do you think she is overreacting?
Nathalie is angry because Harvy kissed her in front of Brantain, which could ruin her chances of marrying him. She feels Harvy acted carelessly. Whether she is overreacting or not depends on opinion, but her anger seems more about protecting her plan than about the kiss itself.
5. Nathalie explains to Brantain that she and Harvy are "like brother and sister" (13). Are you convinced by this explanation? Do you think Brantain is convinced?Her explanation is not convincing because someone who is “like a brother” would not kiss her on the lips so passionately. However, Brantain seems to believe her because he later marries her.
6. Explain the sentence: "She felt like a chess player who, by the clever handling of his pieces, sees the game taking the course intended" (18).
This means that Nathalie feels proud of herself for smartly managing the situation. Like a chess player, she made careful moves (her words and actions) to make things go the way she wanted, marrying Brantain.
7. What type of woman is Nathalie? Do you suppose she will remain faithful to Brantain in the future?Nathalie is smart, charming, and ambitious, but also selfish and manipulative. She values wealth more than love. It’s unclear if she will stay faithful, but based on her actions, it seems possible that she might not, especially if love or excitement tempts her again.
Rhetoric/Language/Writing
1. Retell the story as a personal narrative recounted by Mr. Harvy. Imagine him in his club, telling this tale to a small circle of intimate friends. You will have to develop his character and motivation a bit to do this, but try to keep your additions in harmony with the material in Chopin's version of this story.
"Let me tell you about a strange little episode from a while back: a sort of romantic chess game I didn’t realise I was a part of until it ended. It involved a woman named Nathalie: beautiful, clever, and dangerously ambitious. We had known each other for quite some time. Nothing formal between us, but there was a spark, and I always felt she liked the thrill of our private closeness. I’ll admit, I was fond of her too.
One evening, I dropped by her house with her brother. We often entered from the side door, and that was something casual for us. I walked into the sitting room, and there she was, alone in the firelight. I went straight to her and gave her a kiss. Nothing unusual, I thought. But the shock hit me hard when I saw another man, Brantain, sitting quietly in the shadows. He had seen it all.
Well, you can imagine the drama that followed. Nathalie was furious with me, not because I kissed her, but because it messed up her plan. She was aiming to marry Brantain, a dull fellow, but extremely rich. My kiss nearly ruined everything for her. Later, I found out she spun a lovely little tale for Brantain, claiming we were like brother and sister. The poor man believed it.
They married soon after. At the wedding, Brantain actually sent me over to kiss his new bride. I smiled and told Nathalie I had stopped kissing women. It was too risky. The truth is, I knew I had been just a piece in her game. She won the prize she wanted. I had no place in it anymore. That, my friends, was the end of that chapter."
2. What is the tone of the story? How does the tone support the theme of the story?
The tone of the story is quietly ironic and clever. It feels light on the surface but carries a deep, sharp meaning beneath.
This tone supports the theme of calculated ambition and emotional sacrifice. Nathalie’s actions are serious, but they are presented in a calm, almost casual manner. This soft tone makes her manipulation feel even colder and calculated, emphasising how people sometimes choose wealth over love. The tone also highlights the bitterness of reality, that you cannot always have everything.
3. How does the writer reveal Nathalie's nature and character by describing her first appearance in the story (3)? How is her composure expressed?
When Nathalie first appears, she is sitting calmly in the firelight, gently stroking a cat in her lap. This quiet, controlled image shows that she is composed, confident, and in control. Her slow glances and idle talk suggest that she is clever and calculating. She knows Brantain loves her and is waiting for him to propose. Her rich appearance and calm behaviour reveal that she is someone who knows how to manage situations and use her charm wisely. Her composure is expressed through her graceful movements, calm speech, and quiet control over the moment.
Discussion
1. Discuss the similarities and differences between popular and literary storytelling.
Popular and literary storytelling are similar because both tell a story with characters, events, and emotions. They both aim to engage the reader and often explore common themes like love, conflict, or ambition. However, there are also clear differences between them. Popular storytelling is usually simple and easy to understand. It focuses on entertainment, with fast-moving plots, clear heroes and villains, and happy endings. It is often found in movies, TV shows, and bestselling novels. On the other hand, literary storytelling is more thoughtful and deep. It often has complex characters, realistic situations, and endings that make the reader think. It may not always be entertaining in the usual way, but it helps the reader understand life and human behavior better. So, while both forms tell stories, popular storytelling is for fun and quick enjoyment, and literary storytelling is for deeper reflection and meaning.
2. Is the title of the story appropriate? Give reasons. Also, give a new title which you think may be more appropriate.3. Discuss Nathalie's character.
Nathalie is a smart, confident, and ambitious young woman. She knows how to control situations and use her charm to get what she wants. She values wealth and social status more than true love. She is good at acting calm and innocent, even when she is manipulating others.
At the same time, she is practical. She knows she can’t have both love and money, so she chooses what will give her comfort and security. However, her actions show that she can also be selfish and dishonest, especially in how she hides the truth from Brantain.
In short, Nathalie is a strong but morally complex character who shows how people sometimes sacrifice emotion for ambition.
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