Kate Chopin’s

Born Catherine O’Flaherty Creole/Irish Background Widowed at 32: husband Oscar dies and leaves Kate with $230,000 in debt Wrote to support family: became successful author of short fiction… Historical background

…until The Awakening is published in 1899

Critical response- Some positive: “Analytical, and fine-spun,” - The Book Buyer “The work of an artist who can suggest more than one side of her subject with a single line.” - St. Louis Republic

But most critical response:

“not…wholesome,” - The Dial “should be labeled ‘poison’,” - St. Louis Post-Dispatch “It was not necessary for a writer of so great refinement and poetic grace to enter the over-worked field of sex-fiction,” - Chicago Times-Herald But most critical response:

Women’s role in society Women’s role in the household Consequences of Individualism Implications of Self-Expression

Awakening! Types of Awakening: Physical Emotional Intellectual

Aphrodite (Greek) or Venus (Latin): Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty. She was said to have been born of water. It is believed that she sprang from a sea-birth near the island of Cytherea. The two components of Aphrodite are passion and water.

Echo and Narcissus Echo cursed to only reply + Narcissus totally full of himself = Tragedy

Mythical Allusions Gulf Spirit Sea Spirit from Celtic and Creole myths Takes humans back to the water

Mythical Allusions Icarus Fashioned wings of feathers and wax Flew too close to the sun

Orpheus and Eurydice  Love unfulfilled  Pain of emotional entanglement  Undying love

Fairy Tales: Classic Images: Women are vestal and innocent Put to Sleep or Isolated to preserve innocence Desired for innocence

Important Symbols Birds Water Clothing Houses Music/Art and Expression