Kate Chopin Ms. De La O English 9 "I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself." Edna Pontellier in The Awakening. Kate Chopin Ms. De La O English 9

Let’s get to know her better… Catherine (Kate) O'Flaherty was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 8, 1850. Father: Thomas O'Flaherty of County Galway, Ireland. Mother: Eliza Faris of St. Louis. Bilingual and bicultural 1868: St. Louis Academy of the Sacred Heart. Used Writing to combat depression Mentored by women Kate's family on her mother's side was of French extraction.(creole) Kate grew up speaking both French and English She was the youngest of three children. When Kate was five years old, her father died. She began to view the world differently as a father figure was no longer the center of the household. Mentored by woman--by her mother, her grandmother, great grandmother, as well as by the Sacred Heart nuns.

Kate’s Own Coming of Age… Southern debutante scene of St. Louis Unprepared for ‘domestic life’ New Orleans 1869: Kate meets Oscar Chopin Between 1871 and 1879, Kate performed expected domestic duties and bore six children. 1979: financial difficulties caused the family to Cloutierville, Louisiana. 1882: Oscar died of malaria 1885: Mother died Kate was often considered “the belle of the ball.” Her background (strong female role models--mother, nuns) did not necessarily prepare her for a “domestic life” that was expected of females at that time. marries Oscar Chopin on June 9, 1870, in St. Louis (5 sons and one daughter) On her wedding trip the couple traveled to Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and New York, and then crossed the Atlantic and toured Germany, Switzerland, and France. 1979: The family faced financial difficulties in 1879, and they moved to Cloutierville, Louisiana where she was center of Southern aristocratic social life.

Kate Chopin, the author… Active in St. Louis literary and cultural circles Began writing for publication in 1888. Published several short stories before privately publishing her first novel At Fault in 1890. 1893: “Désirée’s Baby” in Vogue magazine. 1899: The Awakening August 22, 1904: Kate died of a cerebral hemorrhage She became active in St. Louis literary and cultural circles, discussing the works of many writers Began writing for publication in 1888. Her first poem, ”If It Might Be,” was published in the literary and political journal America. Between 1894 and 1898, Chopin wrote and published a variety of short stories and novels. The Awakening in 1899, which was met with praise from women despite its scandalous nature (taboo themes dealing with the protagonist’s awareness of her sexuality).

Kate Chopin’s legacy… Best known for her sensitive treatment of women's lives Revolting against tradition and authority Spoke against the ill treatment of sexuality, divorce, and of woman’s urge for an existential authenticity. Praised for local color Women had the power to determine their own destinies. local color: her pictures of Louisiana Creoles and Acadians She wrote for women and about women. At the time, most men did not understand why women were not content with their lives.

Theme in The Awakening: “Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her … perhaps more wisdom than the Holy Ghost is usually pleased to vouchsafe to any woman”(Chopin)

Setting of The Awakening

Setting of The Awakening

Setting of The Awakening

Literary Terms Motif Simile and Metaphor Setting Irony Direct/Indirect Characterization Novella Plot Theme Allusion Symbol Syntax Tone Realism Third Person Limited Naturalism Romanticism Imagery