1. The Awakening
Kate Chopin

2. Kate Chopin
Born Catherine O’Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri to a wealthy family
Lived in St. Louis during the Civil War
Married cotton trader Oscar Chopin in 1870 and had five sons and one daughter between 1871 to 1879
Oscar died of malaria in 1182

3. The family moved to Cloutierville, LA in 1879 where Oscar purchased a general store.
Although she never remarried, Kate enjoyed a romance with Albert Sampite from 1883 to When the relationship failed, Kate moved back to St. Louis.
A family friend, Dr. Frederick Kolbenheyer, encouraged her to continue writing.
Kate was influenced by Guy De Maupassant, and other French and American writers.
She also involved herself in St. Louis literary and cultural circles.

4. Kate Chopin
Kate and Oscar Chopin traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe on their honeymoon
She developed a progressive world-view and a social conscience
She used her literature to bring women’s issues, racial disparity, and social inequalities to light

5. Prevalent Themes of Chopin’s Short Stories and Novels
Inequities of traditional marriage
Motherhood
Class division
Arbitrary race distinctions in Southern culture
Women’s search for identity
Women’s revolt against social norms and conformity
Mention how Chopin traveled and saw the disparities; refer to earlier slides of opulent and very modest homes

6. Historical Reference
Kate Chopin wrote primarily about things she was familiar with: life in the South and French-American culture.
In “The Awakening”, Kate incorporated both of those elements, and also the idea that a woman could be a separate entity from her husband. Her idea that a woman’s needs were important was somewhat radical. Women were not considered to be independent, and women’s rights were still being fought for.

7. What was life like for men and women in 1890 in the U.S.?
The 1890’s was part of the second Industrial Revolution—The Gilded Age of substantial growth in the U.S. population.
The extremely wealthy lived lavishly and industries grew.
There were huge disparities between the rich and poor.

8. There were opulent homes ...

9. A Few Things to Consider . . .
African American men received the right to vote with the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870.
The Woman’s Suffrage Movement was sidetracked by the Civil War.
Women received the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
Ask students: What was Woman’s Suffrage Movement and what did women want? Encourage brief discussion.

10. More Things to Consider . . .
Property rights laws for married women had not been passed in all states in the United States as of 1890.
Ownership of women’s property was transferred to their husbands upon marriage.
Divorce carried social stigma and property reverted to the husband.
Discuss: The aforementioned economic, social, and political factors informed Kate Chopin’s writing of “The Story of an Hour.”

11. Assignment Read: Historical Background Role of Women Gibson Girl
Southern background