Kate Chopin & The Awakening

1. Kate Chopin & The Awakening 1850 - 1904

2. Chopin's major work was published in 1889. - well-established as a national writer - it was reviewed by critics who universally condemned it as "shocking" and immoral

3. PLOT It is the story of a young woman’s gradual awakening. - sexuality - individual "being" - longing for an independence - suicide

4. She was very important as one of the earliest examples of modernism American Literature.

5. Romantic elements & The Awakening • the exotic locale • use of color • heavy emphasis on nature • romantic theme: individuality and freedom • rebellion against society and death

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. STYLE: Chopin interested in how one tells the story as the story itself.

10. Perspective – multiple Point of view Imagery

11. Appearance in reality: • seen in the New Orleans experience • things are not always what they seem • things are different to different players.

12. All of these formed her style • theme based • her stories were very short • she was experimenting with style

13. Women’s Rights: • - Chopin: was not your typical feminist nor • a suffragist • took women extremelyseriously • due to her background (mother …)

14. 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.”

15. Social Classes: • Black v. White • Rich v. Poor • Male v. Female • comfortable with difference • part of life

16. Theme: • No true beauty without complexity or • conflict • - tragedy and complexity are needed

17. Story information: Creole: is a ‘white person descended from the French or Spanish settlers of Louisiana and the Gulf States and preserving their characteristic speech and culture.’ . . .

18. Three groups: • whites - highest class • free Blacks - emancipated slaves • middle class • 3) slaves household property • the lowest class • They had a complex social organization • which included foreign groups: Germans, • Irish, and Spaniards.

19. 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

20. 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

21. Young Women: • needed a dowry • marry before 25 years old • “coming out” event (theater) • beginning search for a husband

22. Three kinds of French: • traditional French • Acadian • Black Creole • Louisiana natives = francophone • French-speaking

23. 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)

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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)

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. Romanticism in The Awakening • Exotic locale • Emphasis on nature • Use of color • Overriding romantic theme: Edna’s search for individuality and freedom

40. Naturalism and Realism • Stresses real over fantastic • Societal changes- Bible, Darwin • Uncaring aspects of nature and destiny of man • Life was viewed as relentless Realism 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