The Unexpected Chopin

Each piece of symbolism provides support to the independence and the joy resulting of the independence. The short story teaches a valuable lesson of the joy that can be obtained from the independence of being single. It not only demonstrates the importance of independence, but it also has and continues to empower women and men. The short story has captivated the minds of numerous feminists as one of the earliest pieces of the feminist movement. It was a remarkable piece for its time as it managed to empower women and not contain a traditional woman. The independence and the joy it produces could have never been exemplified as well without the powerful symbolism that Kate Chopin

    Kate Chopin is one of the nineteenth century writers. Although she did not have so many writings, she was unique, and was special for her daring subjects and great technique, she was not very welcomed by the critics, not the public at that time. Her themes were too challenging to the social standards and customs of her day. Chopin’s writing was primarily about the psychology realism of women, feminism,  the concept of freedom of every individual, and strongly displayed sexual liberation and self-assertion which was found odd -- especially with her being a woman in the masculine supremacy of society.

In ‘The Story of an Hour’ the struggles and hardships of women in day to day life are conveyed. In ‘The Story of an Hour’, Chopin implies that marriage, even when

The plight of women is evident in the texts presented in“The story of An Hour” and “Hills like White Elephants”. “The story of An Hour” is a short story presented to a reader, the story of a woman whose name (Mrs. Mallard) is interestingly only known after the death of her husband. The illustration of the invisibility of women in Chopin’s work is evident by the use of her literary style. In “The story of An Hour”, Mrs. Mallard seems to live in the shadow of her husband, similar to the story line in “Hills like White Elephants”, a story about a traveling couple to Barcelona. Likened to Mrs. Mallard, who yearns exclusivity from her husband, the woman in in “ Hills like White Elephants” –Jig, is repressed and under the control of her husband who eventually convinces her to procure an abortion. Despite the fact that their men appear stifling, the devotion and love of these women to the men is both trepidating and unexplainable. Both women in hills of white elephants and the story of an hour devoted their lives for their companions as they felt the need to be taken care of. This manuscript therefore provides an analysis of the situation of both women.

Kate Chopin is known for being criticized for empowering the subject of female sexuality and independence. In Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour”, it is placed in a time where men were known as being the head of the household while women were only in charge of raising the children and caring for the home. In the 1890s, women didn’t have so much power to themselves compared to today’s society where female empowerment is frequently encouraged. Chopin’s story narrates a sequence of Mrs. Mallard’s emotions that goes within the motion of the story. As she overcomes the sudden death of her husband, her emotion of grief soon turns into the sudden feeling of freedom, later on emerging into a strong independent woman.

Commonly explored throughout her works, the idea of marriage inhibiting a woman’s freedom is the driving force behind Kate Chopin’s contextual objections to propriety. In particular, The Awakening and “The Story of an Hour” explore the lives of women seeking marital liberation and individuality. Mrs. Chopin, who was raised in a matriarchal household, expresses her opposition to the nineteenth century patriarchal society while using her personal experiences to exemplify her feminist views.

This paper will examine the life of Kate Chopin along with her writing style and theme in The Story of an Hour and The Awakening. Chopin has a unique writing style that shows throughout all of her works. Her works carry similar themes that include: women in search of independence, negative views of marriage, and self-assertion. While reading Chopin’s work, the reader will conclude that Chopin’s writing is very inspiring because she incorporates obstacles that she faced throughout her life. With this technique used, it is easier for the reader to connect with Chopin on a personal level while reading her works.

In “The Story of An Hour” by Chopin illustrates the role of woman in marriage and in the society during her time. It demonstrates the issue of male dominance. There are some similarities and differences in the role of woman in marriage and in the community in 1940’s compared to the way women are treated today. And these are seen in the rights of women and in the responsibilities regarding family and marriage.

Kate Chopin’s short stories testify to display to the readers her viewpoints about love, sex and marriage that one is not usually aware of. These three topics all tied together. Typically, it’s easy to think that when you love someone you get married to them. You only commit yourself to them and no one else. Of course not all marriages work out but that’s life. In two particular short stories though, it establishes the struggle for woman around the 1800’s. Kate Chopin’s “The story of an Hour” and “The Storm” demonstrates the dark side of love, sex, and marriage.

Kate Chopin went through a great amount of obstacles coming up as a child and an adult. She was born on February 8, 1850 in St. Louis, MO. Growing up around her surroundings made her the wise writer that she was. Chopin was sent off to school by her parents and her dad passed away while she was there. After her husband passed, she felt overwhelmed by all the deaths in family. All those tribulations shaped her into the writer she became.

Chopin was well known for writing short stories that centered on women who are faced against diversity. “The women in her stories normally choose their own path rather than what is accepted of them in the eyes of the society”. Even though this statement is true, it is quit ironic that the thought of the now widow with the bright future would soon meet her demise. After reading this poem a person would think what the message of this story is valuable to the cause. The message of that woman has few opportunities in life.

¬¬Brianna Davis ENG 266 01 Dr. Suzanne Del Gizzo November 17, 2014 Research Paper Kate Chopin (1850-1904) was a writer in America, during the late 1800s. Chopin has written two novellas that have a female character that has a strong disbelief in the traditional roles that a patriarchal society would have presented them with during that period. The traditional role of a woman in the late nineteenth century was like a “stay-at-home-mother” in today’s society. The only difference is that a woman has more freedom in today’s society as opposed to in the nineteenth century women who, due to the extreme patriarchal society, had very little freedom. Most women were confined to the home and tending to their children as well as the home.

     Chopin introduces the story with pleasant images and events; she enchants the reader with fairy tales. A woman who cannot have children is blessed with the most “beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere” (31) of

In discussing content, like all great authors, Chopin use symbols and metaphor to allow us to look within the subtext of their works. And many of these symbols and metaphors work to build upon their style, heavily composed of irony. As these are discussed, the themes of the obligations of women in marriage and illusions of independence, will come forward.

At the end of 19th century, American society presented an ideology of patriarchy. Feminists struggle for the equality and discrimination against female. As feminist movement started, lots of female writers were explored. One of the most famous writers is Kate Chopin. Her works mostly present a theme of women pursue freedom and equality. “The Story Of An Hour” and “The Awakening” are her representative works. In these two works, Kate Chopin reveals how women lived under the oppression of male-dominated society, especially for women who got married. They were not financially independent and their freedom and rights were deprived. Therefore female were forced to be an “angle in the home”. Both challenge the preconception that women can only be a housekeeper and marriage is the only way out.