Kate Chopin's Writing Career and Influence on Society Essay

     Kate Chopin was one of the greatest and earliest feminist writers in history, whose works have inspired some and drawn much criticism from others. Chopin, through her writings, had shown her struggle for freedom and individuality.

Kate Chopin's The Awakening is truly a novel that stands out from the rest. From the moment it was published, it has been caused women to examine their beliefs. The fact that The Awakening was shunned when first published, yet now taught in classrooms across the country is proof that The Awakening is full of rebellious and controversial ideas.

Born in 1851 to a wealthy family, Kate Chopin was an unconventional woman. She dressed in strange clothing, smoked, and went on unaccompanied walks, something unheard of during this time period. In the 1890s, Chopin turned to writing after an emotional breakdown due to the death of her husband. Her writing generally received good reviews from critics, but nothing brought widespread public attention until the publication of her second novel, The Awakening. Published in 1899, the story of Edna Pontellier’s sensual awakening and abandonment of her family was just as unconventional as Chopin herself. It was met with harsh criticism and surrounded by controversy. Sensitive to the pushback, Chopin retreated into the background, publishing few more

Louis where she became an author of poems and short stories. Kate Chopin wrote several short stories such as, “The Storm,” and novels such as, “The Awakening.” Chopin expressed many controversial views in her writing and expressed her strong-willed personality through these novels and short stories. Soon on August 22, 1904, Chopin died. “The Complete Works of Kate Chopin (1969) comprise only two volumes. In her own lifetime (1851-1904), she published two novels, At Fault (1890), which I have not read, and the now celebrated The Awakening (1899), as well as two volumes of short stories, Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1897). Chopin gained a reputation as a gifted author of short stories, but it was with the publication in 1899 of her masterpiece, The Awakening, that she reached the culmination of her theme of women’s oppressed lives.” ( )

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.

The Awakening was published in 1899, and it immediately created a controversy. Contemporaries of Kate Chopin (1851-1904) were shocked by her depiction of a woman with active sexual desires, who dares to leave her husband and have an affair. Instead of condemning her protagonist, Chopin maintains a neutral, non-judgmental tone throughout and appears to even condone her character's unconventional actions. Kate Chopin was socially ostracised after the publication of her novel, which was almost forgotten until the second half of the twentieth century.

In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening a wife and a mother of two, Edna Pontellier, discovers her desires as a woman to live life to the fullest extent and to find her true self. Eventually, her discovery leads to friction between friends, family, and the dominant values of society. Through Chopin's use of Author’s craft and literary elements, the readers have a clear comprehension as to what the author is conveying.

Kate Chopin’s The Awakening is a story written in the late 19th century about a 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,

    The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, is full of ideas and understanding about human nature. In Chopin's time, writing a story with such great attention to sensual details in both men and women caused skepticism among readers and critics. However, many critics have different views with deeper thought given to The Awakening. Symbolism, the interpretation of Edna's suicide, and awakenings play important roles in the analysis of all critics.

Kate is very explicit in this story. "When he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy, inviting his lips. Her mouth was a fountain of delight. And when he possessed her, they seemed to swoon together at the very borderland of life's mystery." (Chopin, 122) Kate was strongly criticized by society when she presented explicit material. Kate was criticized by "The Storm", but it was "The Awakening" Kate's most criticized story. After she published it, it became impossible for Chopin to publish her later work. Chopin was censored because of her explicitness in her writing and also because at that time women were supposed to have only one sexual partner. At that time Society did not believe in feminism. Her novel was out of print for several decades, because society questioned Chopin's moral values in her writing. But all of Chopin's writings are now available.

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 is best known for her novel, The Awakening, published in 1899. After its publication, The Awakening created such uproar that its author was alienated from certain social circles in St. Louis. The novel also contributed to rejections of Chopin's later stories including, "The Story of An Hour" and "The Storm." The heavy criticism that she endured for the novel hindered her writing. The male dominated world was simply not ready for such an honest exploration of female independence, a frank cataloguing of a woman's desires and her search for fulfillment outside of the institution of marriage.

Kate Chopin was a successful author of numerous short stories and novels during her life; many critics refer to her as a forerunner author of the 20th century ("Kate"). Throughout Chopin 's life and the many experiences she endured, she grew a great sense of respect and empowerment towards women. However, she is not categorized as a feminist or a suffragist ("Kate"). Chopin insistently supported the revolutionary notion that women were strong individuals and were equal to men. Attributable to her resilient beliefs, the majority of the female characters in Chopin 's short stories are not portrayed as the typical women of her time but rather as an individual with wants and needs similar to herself.

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.