1. Kate Chopin

2. A writer ahead of her time…
Portrayed the passions and discontents of women
Widely condemned
Katherine O’Flaherty

3. St. Louis, Missouri February 8, 1850 Irish father French mother
Surrounded by strong, independent women who helped shape her as a writer

4. Marriage – Oscar Chopin
June 9, 1870 – She was 20 years old.
Moved to New Orleans
Business failed in 1879
Moved to his family’s plantations in Natchitoches Parish
Oscar died 1882 – swamp fever
6 children

5. Life after Oscar Returned to St. Louis Mother died
Emotionally burnt out
Doctor suggested that Kate write to express her grief
Supported her family with income from real estate she owned in Louisiana and St. Louis

6. Writing Nationally acclaimed local color writer
Criticized for questioning the role of women in society
Critical disapproval of her novel, The Awakening
Editor suspended the publication of her third collection of stories – published in 1991 (87 years after her death)
Most famous short story – “Desiree’s Baby”

7. Death
August 20, 1904 – cerebral hemorrhage
Died August 22nd