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The Role Of Modernism In The Awakening By Kate Chopin

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Modernism, though contradictory in what it is about, is a term embodying a range of writers who attempted to escape earlier nineteenth century literary standards. Whether in subject or prose construction, the intent shared by Modernist writers was finding expression for their work by other means. However, the exact time period connecting Modernist writers is debated on whether it is only for those of the nineteenth century. One such writer whose qualifications as a Modernist writer have been questioned is Kate Chopin whose life straddled the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries. But when one takes the time to study Chopin's stories, there is a case to be made for her as a modern writer. Kate Chopin's life experiences played out in a manner similar to the stories in her two books and many short stories. Becoming a contrarian to her time period when her husband died, Chopin decided to earn her own income to support herself and children while never remarrying. Chopin even had an affair with a local planter, mirroring the main character of her book The Awakening in her openness on relationships. Additionally, it was after Chopin developed a taste in learning and intellectual interests that she took up writing on the …show more content…

Just the basic plot of a married woman desiring personal freedom went against traditional expectations of married women being bound by their husband and children for the rest of their lives. Further details such as the main character Edna Pontellier falling for another man and later having an affair with a third proved controversial choices by Chopin in examining the scope of a woman's needs in love and sex. Most controversial of all, despite Edna eventually committing suicide, she is meant to be sympathized and not condemned for her

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