At the ’Cadian Ball

Content Warning: Readers should be advised that this short story uses racial slurs. They are not reproduced in this guide.

One of her earliest published short stories, Kate Chopin’s “At the ’Cadian Ball” (1892) leans heavily on the use of local color to bring her characters, setting, and plot to life. Chopin later republished this work in her book, Bayou Folk, a collection of short fiction depicting the people and culture of Louisiana’s Acadiana region. The story happens quickly, over a few hours, and follows the romantic interests of two courting couples. While natural elements (specifically, a cyclone) drive the plot forward, the overarching themes of human nature and societal expectations are teased out through the characters’ dialogue and actions.



This guide refers to the Penguin Classics edition of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and Selected Stories, originally published in 1984.

Bobinôt, a young Acadian sugarcane farmer, is deciding whether to attend the upcoming ball where he knows his love interest, Calixta, will be. Bobinôt obsesses over Calixta, dismissing other eligible women. He ultimately decides that seeing Calixta will bring him heartache. It is later revealed that Bobinôt in the past had repeatedly expressed a desire to marry Calixta, and she rejected him.