The Unique Style Of Kate Chopin 's Writing

Katherine O’Flaherty, later Kate Chopin, was born to Eliza and Thomas O’Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri on February 8, 1850 (Deter). Unfortunately, when Mrs. Chopin was four, her father died in a train incident leaving her under the care of three independent widows’- her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother (Deter). Mrs. Chopin’s great-grandmother, Victoria Verdon Charleville, directed her education, “giving her a taste of the culture and freedom allowed by the French that many Americans during this time disapproved of . . . through the art of storytelling” (Deter). Therefore, much of Mrs. Chopin’s success in writing about women pursuing morality, freedom, and political independence can be attributed to Victoria. Furthermore, the teachers at the St. Louis Sacred Heart Academy, a school Mrs. Chopin’s father had previously enrolled her in, “exposed her to Catholic teachings devoted to creating good wives and mothers, while also teaching independent thinking” (“Biography”).

     Kate’s writing career began when she published her first poem, “If It Might Be,” in 1889. She also published her first two short stories that same year, “Wiser Than a God,” and, “A Point at Issue.” In 1890, Kate published her first novel, At Fault (3). The book depicted a young woman who discovered that her fiancé had divorced his first wife because she was an alcoholic. After struggling with her morals and trying to figure out what to do, she told him to marry his ex-wife because it was the right thing to do. He surprisingly accepted her suggestion and remarried his wife who then continued her alcoholic endeavors. She suffered an accident because of her drinking and the husband and the woman were finally able to continue their relationship without any interference or consequences. At Fault received mixed reviews, and was criticized for dealing too much with female alcoholism and marriage problems. Later in January of 1893, Chopin published one of her most famous short stories, “Desiree’s Baby.” This story was later included in Bayou Folk, a collection of twenty-three short stories and sketches published in 1894. The stories included in this collection depicted Louisiana life. Upon its publication, critics praised her portrayal of bayou

Kate Chopin was a influential author that introduced powerful female characters to the american literacy world. She was most known for her brilliant book The Awakening. However at that time it received many negative reviews, causing the downfall of Kate’s writing career. Now the book is such a influential story that it is being taught in classrooms throughout the world. This essay will discuss Kate Chopin’s writing career and the impact her writing has on society.

Have you ever wondered what the lifestyles of Nineteenth Century women were like? Were they independent, career women or were they typical housewives that cooked, clean, watched the children, and catered to their husbands. Did the women of this era express themselves freely or did they just do what society expected of them? Kate Chopin was a female author who wrote several stories and two novels about women. One of her renowned works of art is The Awakening. This novel created great controversy and received negative criticism from literary critics due to Chopin's portrayal of women by Edna throughout the book.

“Love and passion, marriage and independence, freedom and restraint.” These are the themes that are represented and worked with throughout Kate Chopin’s works. Kate Chopin, who was born on February 8, 1851, in St. Louis, was an American acclaimed writer of short stories and novels. She was also a poet, essayist, and a memoirist. Chopin grew up around many women; intellectual women that is. Chopin said herself that she was neither a feminist nor a suffragist; she was simply a woman who took other women intensely seriously. Chopin believed women had the ability to be strong, individual, and free-spirited. She herself reached out, in

The novel was not well received, as it dealt with themes that were quite taboo for the time. The book contained controversial themes about infidelity, female sexuality, and motherhood. This would later go on to be her most popular piece, and is regarded by many as her best. The novel was about a woman who is trapped in an oppressive, patriarchal society. The novel is also regarded as one of the earliest important novels for feminism. This, and other works by Chopin, were too far ahead of their time. The irony of this is that Chopin wrote about women oppressed in a patriarchal society, but because of the oppressive society that Kate lived in, these stories were not well received. After twelve years of struggling as a writer, not accepted by society, she became deeply discouraged. She turned to writing short stories. In 1900, Chopin wrote “The Gentleman from New Orleans”. During this year, she was named in the first edition of Marqauis Who’s Who.

A Woman Far Ahead of Her Time, by Ann Bail Howard, discusses the nature of the female characters in Kate Chopin’s novel’s and short stories. Howard suggests that the women in Chopin’s stories are longing for independence and feel torn between the feminine duties of a married woman and the freedom associated with self-reliance. Howard’s view is correct to a point, but Chopin’s female characters can be viewed as more radically feminist than Howard realizes. Rather than simply being torn between independent and dependant versions of her personality, “The Story of an Hour’s” Mrs. Mallard actually rejoices in her newfound freedom, and, in the culmination of the story, the position of the woman

    Kate Chopin was an extraordinary writer of the nineteenth century. Despite failure to receive positive critical response, she became one of the most powerful and controversial writers of her time. She dared to write her thoughts on topics considered radical: the institution of marriage and women's desire for social, economic, and political equality. With a focus on the reality of relationships between men and women, she draws stunning and intelligent characters in a rich and bold writing style that was not accepted because it was so far ahead of its time. She risked her reputation by creating female heroines as independent women who wish to receive sexual and emotional fulfillment,

Regarding our research proposals, I decided to choose Kate Chopin. Kate Chopin author of "The Awakening", “The Storm", “A Night in Caddie" etc. Kate Chopin had a distinctive style of writing; she implemented different perspectives into her work by using imagery, which was often vague. Some of Kate Chopin short stories included characters with the desire to break free without restrictions. I admire how she had full control of her writing, irrespective of the time period, where women were less vocal. Kate Chopin was not afraid to explore and expand her creative side. My research paper will consist of Kate Chopin's main objectives. I will be writing about how Chopin was able to literary verbalize women empowerment, freedom and vocal in the most

Kate Chopin was an American writer who lived from 1850 to 1904. She is usually best known for her shorter stories and character, but is recognized as one of the best American and women authors. The shorter stories that she wrote when she was younger, were very favorable and admirable to the readers. Her writing greatly improved and gained greater talent as a young writer. Many popular magazines were interested in her marvelous stories and writing, that she was published by some of the most well-known magazines. Sadly, Chopin was forgotten after her death, and nobody read or remembered her work she did. Later, around the 1950’s, scholars rediscovered her work and connected her with literature

Since the dawn of time women have been oppressed by a society that forces them to feel and think a certain way. Despite society’s rules, women like Kate Chopin have always found an outlet to express their thoughts and opinions to others. Chopin was one of the first feminist writers and was often criticized for the content of her work. Although she was praised for her writing, many people disliked the content because she depicted her main characters as women who wanted to become independent and chase their own desires; which was seen as unorthodox and unethical during her time period (Ewell np). Kate Chopin used the experiences from her upbringing and surroundings and the values of heritage to write her unconventional stories that brought attention

During the feminist movement many female authors began to write novels about female emancipation. In these novels, the protagonist experiences enlightenment where she discovers that she is living an incomplete life that society has oppressed her into. Before the movement, society forced women into roles that were inferior to men and they were thought of as men’s property. Harold bloom states, “The direction of The Awakening follows what is becoming a pattern in literature by and about women…toward greater self-knowledge that leads in turn to a revelation of the disparity between that self-knowledge and nature of the world” (Bloom, Kate Chopin 43). Moreover, Chopin viewed women’s independence as a personal challenge more than a social struggle, which contradicts her literary works. According to Harold Bloom, “Chopin’s novel was not intended to make a broad social statement but rather that it indicates that Chopin viewed women’s independence as a personal matter”(Bloom, Bloom’s Notes 58). In the past, the novel was banned because of its connection to the feminist movement.

Kate Chopin reflected much of her own life in the books that she wrote. When she was growing up she had no desire to be a writer, but when her husband died, than her mother died, she started to write. It started out as poems then progressed into books . She used her poems to start the beginning of some of her books, such as the poem ‘If It Might Be’ begins the book ‘Euphrasie’. When Kate was alive she did not have a very suscessful career, most of her books were frowned upon, until after she died when people understood the true meaning of her books.

In the early 19th century the men of society were dominant, they were considered the caregivers and are responsible for the actions of their women. When a woman would get into trouble they would be sent to their husband or father to be punished. Kate Chopin unlike many women did not have a male figure in her life. As an author she still had to prove herself to society that she was a good writer. Most female writers of that century wrote under a male name so they could be published, Kate Chopin wanted to be known for her work. Mrs. Mallard searches for freedom within her life. She feels trapped in her marriage, and her husband's death is her ticket to freedom. Kate Chopin shows Mrs. Mallard’s desire for freedom through the use of irony.

Progress that has been made throughout time is often taken for granted. Many women have struggled mentally and physically in order to achieve what most people do not acknowledge, women like Kate Chopin. Chopin was a feminist writer of the nineteenth century who bravely pushed the boundaries of what was typically written about. Her literature was often inspired by the influential women in her life, as well as by the fact that she was bilingual and bicultural. Chopin used writing as a coping mechanism, all the while impacting people to change their predisposed beliefs regarding women and what their roles should be. Chopin exposes her view that women should rebel against the submissive housewife lifestyle of dependence and weakness through her