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 a 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. Religion: • influence of Catholicism • she promoted the idea that every • human person could be excellent • and valuable

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

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

18. 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.’ . . .

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. Other customs: • weddings on Mon. or Tues. • bouquet = relative’s grave • the family signed the register • bride’s home for the banquet • bride cuts the cake (pieces to single girls) • cake put under their pillows • bride and groom spent their honeymoon • in her parents’ house (bedroom = 5+)

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