Kate Chopin Essay Research Paper Kate ChopinKate

Kate Chopin Essay, Research Paper

Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin is one of the first female writers to address female issues,

primarily sexuality. Chopin declares that women are capable of overt

sexuality in which they explore and enjoy their sexuality. Chopin shows that

her women are capable of loving more than one man at a time. They are not

only attractive but sexually attracted (Ziff 148). Two of Chopin.s stories that

reflect this attitude of sexuality are The Awakening and one of her short

stories .The Storm.. Although critics now acclaim these two stories as great

accomplishments, Chopin has been condemned during her life for writing such

vulgar and risqu. pieces. In 1899 Chopin publishes The Awakening. She is

censured for its .positively unseemly. theme (Kimbel 91). Due to the negative

reception of The Awakening Chopin never tries to publish .The Storm.. She

feels that the literary establishment can not accept her bold view of human

sexuality (Kimbel 108). Chopin definitely proves to be an author way ahead of

her time.

The Awakening is considered to be Chopin.s best work as well as a

unlikely novel to be written during the 1890s in America. The Awakening is a

story about a woman, Edna Pontelier, who is a conventional wife and mother.

Edna experiences a spiritual awakening in the sense of independence that

changes her life. Edna Pontellier begins her awakening at the Grand Isle when

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she is 28 years old. She has been married for ten years, and she has two

children. This situation proves to be different from the male characters of

most other novels because they almost always do not have to face the

complications of marriage and parenthood to reach self-determination

(Bogarad 159). Chopin is able to portray this awakening through Edna.s

relationships with her husband, children, Alcee, and Robert.

Kate Chopin always writes about marital instability in her fiction

(Wilson 148). The first way in which Chopin is able to portray an awakening by

Edna is through her relationship with her husband, Leonce. Chopin describes

Leonce as a likable guy. He is a successful businessman, popular with his

friends, and devotes himself to Edna and the children (Spangler 154). Although

Edna.s marriage to Leonce is .purely and accident., he .pleases her. and his

.absolute devotion flattered her. (Chopin 506). However, it is clearly obvious

to the reader the Leonce acts as the oppressor of Edna (Allen 72). When the

reader first sees them together, Leonce is looking at his wife as .a valuable

piece of personal property which has suffered some damage. (Chopin 494).

The most important aspect to Leonce is making money and showing off his

wealth. He believes his wife.s role to be caring for him and his children.

Therefore, the first step toward her freedom is to be free of his rule. Edna is

able to accomplish this first by denying Leonce the submissiveness which he

is accustomed to. She does this by abandoning her Tuesday visitors, she

makes no attempt to keep an organized household, and she comes and goes

as she pleases (Chopin 536). The next big step in gaining her freedom from

her husband is when she moves into a house of her own while Leonce is away

taking of business. She does not even wait to see what his opinion of the

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matter is (Chopin 558). It is quite evident the only thing Leonce worries about

is what people are going to say. Therefore, he begins to remodel the house so

it does not appear that Edna has left him. .Mr. Pontellier had saved

appearances!. (Chopin 565). Leonce never really understands what happens

to his marriage with Edna. Instead he has to face the fact that he as well as

the children are of no consequence to his wife (Spangler 154). There is also

the fact that divorce is not a consideration because in the 1890s this right has

not been generally recognized. The reader must understand that as a matter

of historical fact her options are different from modern ones (Allen 72).

Secondly, Edna must become free from her children. For many years

Edna has been a good mother, but now she sees her boys as an opposition.

Therefore, she refuses to live for them, but rather for herself (Seyersted 151).

While at the Grand Isle Edna tells one of her good friends, Madame Ratignolle,

that she .would give my life for my children; but I would not give myself.

(Chopin 529). Edna believes that she can direct her own life, but she also

acknowledges her responsibility toward her children. She knows how the

patriarchal society condemns a freedom-seeking women who neglects her

children (Seyersted 62). The reader also comes to know Adele Ratignolle well.

As a friend of Edna.s, she represents the exact opposite. Chopin portrays

Adele as being totally devoted mother to her family and happy of her domestic

lifestyle. She has a baby every two years

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