On June 9th, 1870, Kate marries Oscar Chopin. Both Oscar and Kate moved to New Orleans, were the majority of Kate's novels and short stories setting occurred. Kate and her husband had a complete of six children, Jean Baptiste, Oscar Charles, George Francis, Frederick, Felix Andrew, and Lélia, before her husband's death on December 10th, 1882. With six kids, no husband, and a company to run, that she couldn't keep afloat, Kate moved back again to St. Louis, were she published her novels and short stories.
Throughout Kate Chopin's 54 years, she's written two novels and in regards to a hundred short stories. Jennifer Hicks stated, "Some of Chopin's short stories were rejected for publication on moral grounds, for editors perceived in them an unseemly involvement in female self-assertion and sexual liberation. (Hicks)" In 1969, Per Seyersted summarized Kate Chopin's accomplishments stating, "She broke new grounds in American literature. She was the first woman writer in her country to simply accept passion as the best subject for serious, outspoken fiction. Revolting against tradition and authority; with a daring which we can hardy fathom today; with an uncompromising honesty no trace of sensationalism, she undertook to give the unsparing truth about woman's submerged life. She was something of any pioneer in the amoral treatment of sexuality, of divorce, and of woman's urge for an existential authenticity. She is in many respects a modern writer, particularly in her awareness of the complexities of truth and the difficulties of freedom. (Seyersted)"
Kate's second novel, "The Awakening" was published on January 21st, 1898. Like most of Chopin short stories and novels she goes to a time were divorce was quite rare, were men automatically had the right to both children and property, and were women looked for a voice and a reason. "The Awakening" for many of reasons was not one of her best works in that time. Many people criticized Kate because from it. In Peggy Skaggs Short Story Criticism, she stated, "In Chopin's masterpiece, The Awakening, we come across a husband beset by the "man-instinct of possession" and a female who discovers that she needs to be considered a person as well as a wife and mother. The novel evoked outrage from critics, readers, and library censors generally because Chopin allowed the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, to take control of her own life without criticizing her for doing this. (Skaggs)"
"The Awakening" it takes place in New Orleans with a married couple Edna Pontellier and Léonce Pontellier and their two children Etienne and Raoul Pontellier. Edna was married to a man who ensured his family had everything that they wished for. Although Mr. Pontellier provided each one of these things, it still did not make Edna Pontellier happy. While Edna husband Léonce was away at work, her and her two children stayed by using an island from the coast of Louisiana. While there Mrs. Pontellier meets people who she feels fulfills her life. Among these people was a guy name Robert Lebrun whom she falls madly deeply in love with. TOGETHER WITH THE Awakening taking place in the late nineteenth century, people felt that marriage was a bond that you should not break, that was exactly what Mrs. Pontellier did.
In Russ Sprinkle critical reception of Kate Chopin's The Awakening, he stated: "Yet willing to give up everything--even her own life--for the freedom of unencumbered individuality, Edna Pontellier epitomized the consummate New Woman of the late nineteenth century" (Sprinkle). He also stated, "In regards to a month prior to the release of Chopin's novel, Lucy Monroe reviewed her novel for the March 1899, issue of Book News. Monroe praised Chopin's are an "extraordinary novel" and applauds it as "subtle and an excellent kind of art" (Toth 329) (Sprinkle). With praises like these Chopin's thought her novel would be one of her best works. Instead Sprinkle stated, "Most critics regarded the novel as vulgar, unwholesome, unholy, and a misappropriation of Chopin's exceptional literary talent. Many reviewers regarded the novel's aggrandizement of sexual impurity as immoral, and therefore they condemned the novel's theme" (Sprinkle).
While the type Edna was loved by few, she was disowned by many. She showed how an unhappy marriage can lead to self destruction. In Carrie Harris Feminist Criticism for the Awakening, she stated: "Kate Chopin wrote "The Awakening, " showing people of the nineteenth century society and the future generations, how hard women struggled to overcome their conflicting feelings and the oppression of society's tradition to be more than just personal property for men to control"( Harris).
At the finish of the novel Edna expressed her love for Robert and even though he felt the same way, he knew they could not be. When Edna left the house, Robert had promised her that he would stay, however when she came back he was not there.
"When she thought that he was there accessible, waiting for her, she grew numb with the intoxication of expectancy. It was so late; he would be asleep perhaps. She'd awaken him with a kiss. She hoped he would be asleep that she might arouse him with her caresses. Still, she remembered Adèle's voice whispering, "Think about the kids; think of them. " She meant to think of them; that determination had driven into her soul just like a death wound - but not to-night. To- morrow would be time to think about everything. Robert was not looking forward to her in the little parlor. He was nowhere accessible. The house was empty. But he had scrawled on a bit of paper that lay in the lamplight: "I really like you. Good-by - because I really like you. " Edna grew faint when she browse the words. She went and sat on the sofa. Then she stretched herself out there, never uttering a sound. She did not sleep. She didn't go to sleep. The lamp sputtered and went out. She was still awake each day, when Celestine unlocked your kitchen door and came directly into light the fire" (Stone)
Torn and broken hearted Edna went to the beach and swimmed until she drowned. In Suzanne D. Green criticism, she states: "The Awakening offers a stirring glimpse in to the psyche of a woman, giving modern day readers insight into both the social structures and the consequences that these structures have exerted over generations of women. This novel offers a female protagonist with whom we can identify, and then for whom we can have a great deal of sympathy. Edna Pontellier's escape strikes a cord in many readers, in large part because she had the strength to act, to manage her destiny. It really is this very act, this empowerment, which includes made The Awakening a mainstay in the American literary canon" (Suzanne).
Weather people understood the pain Edna Pontellier felt or not she showed throughout the novel how she wished to feel free. Clear of her husband, clear of her kids, and free from responsibilities as a whole. Edna Pontellier Death showed how a women's struggle.
Published on December 6th, 1894, "The Story of an Hour" was somewhat like "The Awakening". Many people saw marriage as something everyone should long for. In an article by Nicole Smith, she states, "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin represents a poor view of marriage by presenting the reader with a female who is clearly overjoyed that her husband has died" (Smith). Chopin often showed woman desiring freedom. Much like "The Awakening" Chopin wrote in regards to a wife Louise Mallard and her husband Brently Mallard. Mr. Mallard, like the majority of husbands, cherished his wife Louise. Many critics spoke about how wonderful Mrs. Mallard husband was. How he worked and adored his wife. But on the other hand you have Mrs. Mallard, a female who has an excellent of how she would feel if she was alone.
Chopin opened her short story up with, "Realizing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as is possible the news headlines of her husband's death" (Line 1). Mrs. Mallard sister Josephine only saw a happy marriage. So when it was time to tell Mrs. Mallard about her husband, she felt as though it would cause her to have some type of heat problems. As Josephine spoke to Mrs. Mallard the storyline states,
"She did not hear the storyplot as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to simply accept its significance. She wept simultaneously, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. If the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She'd have no person follow her. There stood, facing the open window, an appropriate, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by the physical exhaustion that haunted her body and appeared to reach into her soul" (Line 6-11).
In, The Faces of Eve, Judith Fryer writes, "In the last year of the nineteenth century a woman succeeded where men had failed: Kate Chopin created. . . a woman who is a person" (Fryer). Chopin's showed what sort of woman who feels trapped; feels the desire to celebrate.
Feeling clear of her overprotective husband she heads downstairs. Once downstairs everyone realizes the entranceway had been opened with an integral. Mr. Mallard walks in alive and well. The shock of seeing Mr. Mallard killed Mrs. Mallard. The Joy that she had before was killed when her husband walked through that door.
"When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills" (Line ).
Studies show, "That the suicide rates have decreased from the 1950-1980 from 13. 2% to about 11%"(Wikipedia). In 1904 Kate Chopin's dies, but it wasn't until five years after her death, people start realizing that she'll be remembered forever. Chopin's novel "The Awakening" and her short story "The story of one hour", both shows "A woman's struggle" of the nineteenth century.
