Kate Chopin & The Awakening 1850 - 1904
Chopin's major work was published in 1889.- well-established as a national writer- it was reviewed by criticswho universally condemned it as "shocking" and immoral
It is the story of a young woman’s gradual awakening.
- sexuality- individual "being" - longing for an independence- suicide
PLOT
Romantic elements & The Awakening
- the exotic locale- use of color- heavy emphasis on nature- romantic theme: individuality and freedom- rebellion against society and death
Edna - two extremes in life
- completely alone = romanticism&
- frequent inner thoughts- memories of childhood- the personified sea (nature)- the mysterious woman in black- the romantic music, dinner party - desire to express herself
Naturalism & The Awakening
- Edna as hostage to her biology- She is female (children & wife) - society dictates behavior- "no attempt to suppress her impulses" - welfare of her children
Local Color & The Awakening
- characterizations of the people- the descriptions of places- fundamental meaning of the story- Creole society and its social mores- women making choices that create a life
Appearance in reality:
- seen in the New Orleans experience- things are not always what they seem - things are different to different players.
All of these formed her style
- theme based- her stories were very short- she was experimenting with style
Women’s Rights:
- Chopin: was not your typical feminist nor a suffragist- took women extremely seriously- due to her background (mother …)-
- lack of interest in feminism and suffrage: she simply had a different understanding of freedom. - Freedom = “character of living your life within the constraints that the world makes [or] your God offers you, because all of us do live within constraints.”
Social Classes:
- Black v. White- Rich v. Poor- Male v. Female- comfortable with difference- part of life
Story information:
Creole: is a ‘white person descended from the French or Spanish settlers of Louisianaand the Gulf States and preserving their characteristic speech and culture.’ . . .
Three groups:1) whites - highest class2) free Blacks - emancipated slaves middle class3) slaves household property the lowest class
They had a complex social organizationwhich included foreign groups: Germans, Irish, and Spaniards.
Culture:
- father was dominant- his word was law- not always a faithful spouse- ruled like a king- dutiful in the sense he went places with his wife
Young men:
- given their own quarters- entertainment - had mistresses (Black or mulatto)- couldn’t marry them- accepted custom - marriages = business - wives = passive and ‘innocent’ lovers
Young Women:
- needed a dowry- marry before 25 years old- “coming out” event (theater)- beginning search for a husband
Three kinds of French:
- traditional French- Acadian- Black Creole
- Louisiana natives = francophone French-speaking
Kate Chopin: The Early Years
• Born in St. Louis, MO in 1850
• Life was full of tragedy; largely death
• Attended Sacred Heart Academy
• After her father’s death, raised by her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother (all widows)
Role of the Civil War
• St. Louis was a pro-North city
• Only documented female friend was forced to retreat to the South
• A noted time of change
Death
• Though one of 5 children, Chopin was the only one to survive beyond 25 years of age
• Many family members died around Holy Days, instilling a strong sense of skepticism surrounding religion
Marriage
• Married Oscar Chopin at the age of 20
• Both French Catholic background
• He adored her, admired independence and intelligence and “allowed” her unheard of freedom
• Gave birth to 5 boys and 2 girls before she was 28
More Tragedy
• Oscar was not an able businessman; returned to his old home in rural Louisiana (from New Orleans) and died of swamp fever
• Chopin moved her family to St. Louis to live with her mother
• Mother died the next year- this began her writing career
Inspiration for The Awakening and Reception
• Based on stories of people she’d known in New Orleans
• Content and message of The Awakening caused an uproar
• Parallels between Chopin and Edna because both defied societal rules
Künstleroman
• Like a Bildungsroman, but centered around growth as an artist
• The Awakening is a tale of a woman who struggles to realize herself and her artistic ability
Historical and Cultural Background
• Written at the end of the 19th century– Conflict between the old and new– World’s Fair– Darwin– Criticism of the Bible– Women’s Suffrage– Industrial Age (Machine Age)
Louisiana
• In addition to the changes the country was facing, Louisiana had its own set of problems:– Mix of three cultures: American, Southern, and
Creole– Aftermath of the Civil War still reverberating– Edna’s father is a good example of this.
Creole Culture
• Catholic
• Creole women were very conservative
• Frank and open in discussing marriages and children b/c of understood moral nature and chastity
• Deep and personal commitment to fidelity– Adele is a good example of this
Creole Culture Continued…
• Louisiana operated under a different legal system
• Feminist movement had little hope in the state– A woman belonged to her husband– Under Article 1124, married women were
equated with babies and the mentally ill and were deemed incompetent to make a contract
Industrial Age and Lower Class Women’s Independence
• With the Machine Age, the crafts women had always produced in their homes became a mass-producible industry
• Conditions were hazardous, the pay was low, and women’s income was the property of their husbands, but first move toward female independence
Upper and Middle Class Women
• Expected to stay home as idle, decorative symbols of their husbands’ wealth
• “angels of the house”• Pregnant frequently• Cared for their homes, their husbands, their
children; played music, drew and sang• Often brought a dowry or inherited wealth to the
marriage• Adele
Suffrage
• Women began to rise up (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Coffin Mott)
• Declaration of Sentiments
• Labeled unfeminine, immoral
• 15th Ammendment (1870) gave right to vote regardless of color or creed
Climate of the Time
• The Awakening is representative of the time• Chopin was ostracized• Praised for her skill as a writer, but demonized for
content– “Not a healthy book.”– “Sex fiction.”– “Unhealthy introspection and morbid.”
• The novel encapsulates the struggle of women during this time and speaks to the painful process
Literary Context
• Romantic Movement:– Assertion of the self, power of the individual,
sense of the infinite and transcendental nature of the universe
– Relationship between nature and man
– Making success of failure, American landscape, power of man to conquer the land, and individualism
Romanticism in The Awakening
• Exotic locale
• Emphasis on nature
• Use of color
• Overriding romantic theme: Edna’s search for individuality and freedom
Naturalism and Realism
• Stresses real over fantastic• Societal changes- Bible, Darwin• Uncaring aspects of nature and destiny of man• Life was viewed as relentlessRealism in The Awakening:• Portrayal of Edna as hostage to her biology• Women as economic possessions• Edna as a victim of nature and fate• Local color