Kate Chopin, Essay Example

Kate Chopin (1850 – 1904) lived the majority of her life beyond the boundaries and confines of the period she lived. Kate was a bright and exceptional lady who “grew up surrounded by smart, independent, single women” (Wyatt, 1995). She attended school at the Sacred Heart Academy. She published two novels and over one hundred stories and essays during her lifetime. Unfortunately most of her work was not critically or publically recognized until after her death.  Her novels were considered morbid and vulgar by the public during this time period.  The popularity for her novels occurred in 1969 when The Awakening was republished. Her work is now embraced for her grace and poetic portrayal of women.

Chopin’s work focuses on women and her feminist views are woven throughout her stories and novels. Her upbringing is perhaps the foundation for her feminist beliefs. Although during her lifetime the feminist movement had not occurred. She has been referred to as the beginnings of the movement. The irony of her life is that she did not live as a feminist but rather independently. Her life and her works did not convey any malice or animosity towards the male gender. Rather her predominant theme centers on independence, self-sufficiency and true love.

She was an autonomous, nurturing and intelligent. Having a father from Ireland and a mother of French descent she was taught to speak French and English; “she was bilingual and bicultural – feeling at home in different communities with quite different values” (Kate Chopin, 2009).  She grew up watching her mother obtain legal separation from her husband; simply unheard of in the 19^th century. Her mother and relatives were women prominent in this time period for going beyond the confines of society and making ground-breaking changes for women.

Chopin’s themes throughout her works focus on women and the search for individualism and breaking free of conformity and social norms. Her work addressed feelings towards race and gender issues. During this time period her expressive ideas and taboo ethics regarding sexuality were unacceptable to the public. This was seen as immoral and some of her works were discredited and forgotten. The Awakening (1899) is her most criticized and acknowledged work for the artistic ability she demonstrates along with the theme and plot of the story. In this novel Chopin details the story of a young woman who ‘awakens’ to her sexual identity and experiences anguish over her longing for independence; unacceptable per social norms. The story ends in her taking her own life, symbolic of ‘awakening’ within herself.

The story is about Edna Pontellier who wishes to be able to express herself artistically; echoing Chopin’s life. She is unsettled and unhappy as her husband controls her as his possession.  In chapter 6 Edna feels “a certain light was beginning to dawn dimly within her, the light which, showing the way, forbids it” (Chopin). The story is told with the theme of feminism as Edna is portrayed early as an obedient wife; suddenly realizing her longing for more.  Chopin weaves words and phrases to demonstrate the feeling of breaking free from the conformity of society and becoming independent.

It is ironic that the sea symbolizes for Edna the early realization of her sexuality and longing for independence. Chapter VI demonstrates this as Chopin writes “the voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, and murmuring.” In the end the sea “coiled like serpents about her ankles” (Chapter 39). She finally submits to her defeat at being able to live life controlled by society, her husband or children: “they need not have thought they could possess her body and soul” (Chapter 39).

In Chopin’s The Story of an Hour the main character Mrs. Mallard learns of her husband’s sudden death. Her reaction to his death is quite different from what everyone expects. She “said it over and over under her breath: free, free, free! (Chopin, 1894).  She feels freedom and revolution surrounding her autonomy. Again, Chopin is demonstrating her views of women and independence. Although she loved her husband, she realizes she is happy and looking forward to her sudden independence. She is thrilled as she “suddenly recognized the strongest impulse of her being!” (Chopin, 1894). Chopin writes this story with great enthusiasm for the character’s freedom and escape from the dominant, although loving husband. Chopin expresses her views in the statement “men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (1894).

This story ends in irony as her husband is not really dead and as she is dancing and allowing herself to feel the joy of her freedom and independence, he suddenly appears. He was not involved in a fatal accident as believed. Mrs. Mallard dies presumably from her known heart disease; Chopin tells the readers it is “of the joy that kills” (Chopin, 1894). The theme Chopin weaves in this story is of feminism and the desire of women to have a life separate and under their own control.

A common theme in Chopin’s work is the fact that women are not content to have men rule and dominate them. They do not want or need to follow tradition or societal mandates. In A Respectable Woman the main character Mrs. Baroda first hates and then is attracted to her husband’s friend.  In this story, unlike The Awakening, the character intends to follow through with her passion and desire.  Karen Bernardo in a review of the story relates “clearly she intends to indulge the fantasies about Gouvernail which she has apparently harbored in secret all summer” (6).

The Storm is another short story by Kate Chopin detailing feminism of the main character reuniting with an old love.  In this account the main character Clarisse is trapped in a storm with her old love and has an affair. In the end she returns home and the story ends happily with her husband not realizing what has happened. The plot for this story shows Chopin’s acceptance of going beyond society and the limitations placed on women. “Devoted as she was to her husband, their intimate conjugal life was something which she was more than willing to forego for a while” (Chopin, 1898).

Desiree’s Baby is somewhat different from her other studies about women and independence. This story uses racial topics as the predominating theme. Given the era this story was written, she again shows her strength in writing on topics she feels is important and not just what society wants to see or hear. Chopin is considered a writer of American realism; this story is revolves around morals associated with race and the restrictive principles of the period. She uses irony and symbolism throughout the story in relation to slavery and racial issues. Chopin uses images of color throughout the story consistent with the theme of racial color issues. She talks about “soft white muslins and lace . . . black like a cowl . . . yellow stuccoed house” throughout the story.

Kate Chopin was a person who took women and rights very seriously. She was strong and believed all women to be equally as strong. She believed in freedom and confidence which she displayed in her life and in her artistic works. Her childhood years living with women who were intelligent, self sufficient and independent taught her much about feminism. She married and had children and devoted herself to her family. When her husband died of swamp fever she was left with debts to pay and a family to rear. Given her strong background and personality she persevered. She started her writing career at this point and her works are heavily laden with her ideas and concepts of women and liberation.

Works Cited

Bernardo, Karen. Kate Chopin’s “A Respectable Woman” Commentary. 2009. Web. December 2, 2009

Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. PBS Home Programs Electronic Library. 2009. Web. December 1, 2009.

Kate Chopin. Kate Chopin Biography. 2009. The Kate Chopin International Society. Web. December 3, 2009.

Wyatt, Neal. Biography of Kate Chopin. 1995. Virginia Commonwealth University. Web. December 3, 2009.