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The Awakening

The Awakening. BACKGROUND ON THE PERIOD, AUTHOR, AND TEXT. 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).

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The Awakening

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  1. The Awakening BACKGROUND ON THE PERIOD, AUTHOR, AND TEXT

  2. 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)

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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)

  10. 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.

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

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

  19. 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

  20. Myths and Fairy Tales • Aphrodite (Venus) • Goddess of love and beauty • Sprang from sea birth • Sea renews virginity • Represented through passion and water

  21. Artemis (Diana) • Apollo’s twin sister • Goddess of the woods and wild things • Defense of women • 3 parts: land, sky, and underworld (moonless night)

  22. Echo and Narcissus • Echo was a beautiful nymph who was fond of talking • Kept Hera talking and let Hera’s prey escape. Hera cursed her: “You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me. You shall still have the last word, but no power to speak it.” • Echo fell in love with Narcissus. Narcissus rejected her, Echo faded into the hills. Later, fell in love with his image.

  23. Gulf Spirit • Spirits that come out of the sea to look for a mate or wife

  24. Icarus • Fashioned wings out of wax to escape the labryinth • His father cautioned him not to fly to low or too high, but to keep a middle course • Icarus flew too high. His wings melted and he fell into the sea and drowned.

  25. Psyche • Youngest of 3 princesses • Beauty outshone Aphrodite • Aphrodite was envious and forced Eros to make Psyche fall in love with the vilest creature • Eros fell in love with her instead

  26. Fairy Tales • Think about pattern and structure • Women as main character: • Childhood • In adolescence a spell is cast- leads to sleep or isolation • Keeps them innocent • A hero arrives, finds the innocent woman and she is worthy of love and happiness. • Note this idea with Edna

  27. Fairy Tales • Men as hero • Stories of quest • Series of challenges, completes them, takes place in the world -Edna has a spell to overcome (unawakened self) -Edna combines both male and female fairy tale aspects of her life Goldilocks and Snow White

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