Passion In Chopin's The Awakening

Man often pairs logical rationale with the underlying emotional basis for his decisions, but emotion ceases to exist when it no longer parallels the rationale. At the beginning, Monsieur Aubigny’s passion for Désirée awakens with the ferocity of all “that drives headlong over all obstacles.” Chopin compares its tenacity to an avalanche and a prairie fire, giving the impression of strength and omnipotence, and Monsieur Aubigny uses this passion to justify his quick courtship and marriage to Désirée. However, just as the fire and the avalanche, his passion weakens with every obstacle. Upon his realization that Désirée gave birth to an African-American child, his passion immediately freezes. He loses his humanity, indifferent to Désirée’s pleas