Love vs. Attraction Theme Analysis

In “At the ’Cadian Ball,” Kate Chopin draws a clear distinction between love and attraction. In the story, attraction generally takes the form of flirtation while love takes the form of devotion. Bobinôt’s feelings and behavior towards Calixta exemplify love; although she pays no attention to him throughout most of the story, Bobinôt remains smitten and delights in any recognition Calixta shows him. On the other hand, Alcée Laballiére shows how this kind of love differs from simple attraction. Alcée is attracted to Calixta, as seen by their flirtatious interaction on the gallery bench. However, Alcée loves Clarisse: as soon as she shows up at the ball and asks Alcée to come home, he complies and no longer thinks of Calixta. Through these two men and their behavior at the ball, Chopin demonstrates that attraction is merely a superficial, momentary feeling, while love requires fidelity, responsibility, and practical gestures of devotion.  

Chopin dedicates the introduction of “At the ’Cadian Ball” to Bobinôt’s love for Calixta, and this love remains unchanging throughout the story. Towards the beginning of the story, readers learn that Bobinôt did not initially intend to go to the ball. Nevertheless, he decides to go after hearing that Alcée will be in attendance: “A drink or two could put the devil in [Alcée’s] head [...] a gleam from Calixta’s eyes, a flash of her ankle, a twirl of her skirts could do the same.” Through Bobinôt’s ultimate decision to attend the ball, he demonstrates that he feels a sense of responsibility when it comes to Calixta—he feels the need to protect her from flirtatious people like Alcée, even if attending will be unpleasant for Bobinôt himself. At the ball, Calixta makes a cruel jest at the expense of Bobinôt: “Hé, Bobinôt! Mais w’at ’s the matta? W’at you standin’ planté là like ole Ma’ame Tina’s cow in the bog, you?” Calixta’s taunt generates “a clamor of laughter at his expense.” However, instead of feeling anger or humiliation, Bobinôt joins in the laughter “good-naturedly,” feeling that “it was better to receive even such notice as that from Calixta than none at all.” Furthermore, despite this taunt, Bobinôt remains on guard for Calixta. When she disappears with Alcée to the gallery, Bobinôt goes to look for her, “peering uneasily and searchingly into the darkness.” Through this, readers can see Bobinôt’s unwavering sense of responsibility when it comes to his beloved. After the ball, Bobinôt walks Calixta home despite her continued rudeness to him. When she accepts his feelings with a flippant “well, if you want [to marry me], yet, I don’t care, me,” Bobinôt’s face shines with “the glow of a sudden and overwhelming happiness.” She refuses his request for a kiss, but he is perfectly satisfied. Despite Calixta’s impertinence, Bobinôt remains steadfast in his devotion and is willing to marry her. In this way, Bobinôt exemplifies unwavering love in the story. 

Similar to Bobinôt, Alcée Laballière also demonstrates himself capable of being a steadfast lover, in his case to Clarisse. However, he also shows exemplifies a different kind of romantic relationship: flirtation based purely on attraction. Readers can see Alcée’s capacity for superficial flirtation from his interactions with Calixta at the ball. Devastated by the cyclone that destroyed his crops, Alcée goes to the ball most likely hoping to find simple distraction. Calixta, the belle of the ball, catches his eye and the two soon have a tryst on the balcony. The narrator notes that “they were acting like fools,” playing a game with Calixta’s jewelry as a front for physical affection. Alcée is also very smooth with his words: when a servant informs him about the arrival of a visitor, Alcée responds, “I wouldn’t go out to the road to see the Angel Gabriel.” However, when Clarisse comes to fetch him, he immediately leaves “without a word, without a glance back at [Calixta].” Indeed, the narrator relates that “he had forgotten he was leaving her there.” Alcée makes no lasting gestures of devotion to Calixta—he merely uses sweet words and playful flirtation. Alcée’s verbal dexterity when it comes to Calixta forms a striking contrast with his verbal clumsiness around Clarisse. The narrator describes his initial confession of love to Clarisse as “ a volley of hot, blistering love-words into her face.” Through Alcée’s varying verbal capacities, the story suggests that the true indicator of love does not come from words, but rather from caring gestures like the ones Bobinôt makes toward Calixta. Indeed, when it comes to love, Alcée turns out to be a man of devotion. On their way home from the ball, Clarisse confesses her love to Alcée so that “he thought the face of the Universe was changed—like Bobinôt.” Here, the story draws a parallel between Alcée’s feelings towards Clarisse and Bobinôt’s passionate devotion to Calixta, reiterating that Alcée’s feelings for Clarisse can be none other than love. Indeed, Clarisse’s confession leads him to forget not only Calixta, but also the cyclone that felt life-changing mere hours ago. Alcée views Clarisse as “the one, the only great reality in the world,” implying that only she is worthy of his utmost devotion. The fact that he leaves the ball with her without a second thought underscores the idea that genuine love shows itself largely through actions, not words or empty flirtations.

Through the characters of Bobinôt and Alcée and the varying affections they feel for their romantic interests, Chopin demonstrates the difference between attraction and love. Attraction is a superficial, momentary, and forgettable moment of intimacy; Calixta and Alcée may talk and laugh “as lovers do,” but that doesn't mean they really love each other. On the other hand, the story argues, love is a profound and lasting feeling that goes beyond words; it shows up in caring gestures and proven dedication over time.