The Awakening Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin 1850 - 1904 Born Catherine O’Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri to a wealthy family Lived in St. Louis during the Civil War Married cotton trader Oscar Chopin in 1870 and had five sons and one daughter between 1871 to 1879 Oscar died of malaria in 1182

The family moved to Cloutierville, LA in 1879 where Oscar purchased a general store. Although she never remarried, Kate enjoyed a romance with Albert Sampite from 1883 to 1884. When the relationship failed, Kate moved back to St. Louis. A family friend, Dr. Frederick Kolbenheyer, encouraged her to continue writing. Kate was influenced by Guy De Maupassant, and other French and American writers. She also involved herself in St. Louis literary and cultural circles.

Kate Chopin 1850 - 1904 Kate and Oscar Chopin traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe on their honeymoon She developed a progressive world-view and a social conscience She used her literature to bring women’s issues, racial disparity, and social inequalities to light

Prevalent Themes of Chopin’s Short Stories and Novels Inequities of traditional marriage Motherhood Class division Arbitrary race distinctions in Southern culture Women’s search for identity Women’s revolt against social norms and conformity Mention how Chopin traveled and saw the disparities; refer to earlier slides of opulent and very modest homes

Historical Reference Kate Chopin wrote primarily about things she was familiar with: life in the South and French-American culture. In “The Awakening”, Kate incorporated both of those elements, and also the idea that a woman could be a separate entity from her husband. Her idea that a woman’s needs were important was somewhat radical. Women were not considered to be independent, and women’s rights were still being fought for.

What was life like for men and women in 1890 in the U.S.? The 1890’s was part of the second Industrial Revolution—The Gilded Age of substantial growth in the U.S. population. The extremely wealthy lived lavishly and industries grew. There were huge disparities between the rich and poor. http://www-tc.pbs.org/marktwain/scrapbook/05_gilded_age/images/05_cover.gif

There were opulent homes ... http://www.erasofelegance.com/arts/architecture/southern.jpg

A Few Things to Consider . . . African American men received the right to vote with the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870. The Woman’s Suffrage Movement was sidetracked by the Civil War. Women received the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Ask students: What was Woman’s Suffrage Movement and what did women want? Encourage brief discussion.

More Things to Consider . . . Property rights laws for married women had not been passed in all states in the United States as of 1890. Ownership of women’s property was transferred to their husbands upon marriage. Divorce carried social stigma and property reverted to the husband. Discuss: The aforementioned economic, social, and political factors informed Kate Chopin’s writing of “The Story of an Hour.”

Assignment Read: Historical Background Role of Women Gibson Girl Southern background