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Kate Chopin Research Paper

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Kate Chopin was born on February 8, 1851 in St. Louis and died on August 22, 1904. During her lifetime she was very big on feminist roles and the way women were set different in society. She shares in her diary many ways that she was set differently in her society just for being a woman. She lived in St. Louis and was very well known for her popularity and prettiness, because of this she was obligated to participate in dance and be flirtatious which is something she thought was unfair. However, this was expected because she was a woman whom had roles to fulfill. Chopin also wrote about other times that she had to fulfill her role as a woman. For example, when she gave birth to her five sons and one daughter. As a woman she was obligated to
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Kate Chopin makes use of her other characters as well in revealing the theme through juxtaposition. Madame Ratignolle serves as an obedient wife who confines to society’s standards without protest and acts as a character consistently compared to Edna when another character wishes to criticize her changing. On one occasion, her husband talks down to her when she neglects her role as a wife and housekeeper by choosing to paint instead. He tells her she can paint, but not to neglect her duties, comparing her to Madame Ratignolle because she is “more of a musician than [she is] a painter” and still fulfills her necessary tasks (Chopin 95-96). Edna wishes to diverge from the societal norms, becoming independent of her responsibilities through her

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In the late 1800s, nearly all women were viewed as subservient, inferior, second class females that lived their lives in a patriarchal and chauvinist society. Women often had no voice, identity, or independence during that time period. Moreover, women dealt with the horrors of social norms and the gender opposition of societal norms. The primary focus and obligation for a woman to obtain during the 1800s was to serve her husband and to obey to anything he said. Since women were not getting the equality, freedom, or independence that they desired, Kate Chopin, an independent-minded female American novelist of the late 1800s expressed the horrors, oppressions, sadness, and oppositions that women of that time period went through.

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When her husband walked through the front door she was so overcome with sadness that her heart couldn’t take it so she died. This shows just how bad that she was treated because she died when she found out her husband was alive. Through the use of plot twist Kate Chopin showed how women were treated unfairly throughout her

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In the 19th century, a group of people launched the suffrage movement, and they cared about women’s political rights, their property and their body liberty. Born in that age, Kate Chopin was aware of the importance of setting an example for those who were taken in by the reality and poor women to be an inspiration. So we call her a forerunner of the feminist author for every effort she put in advocating women’s sexuality, their self-identity and women’s own strength. When people were ashamed of talking about sexuality, Kate Chopin stood out and call for women’s sexual autonomy.

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After her father’s death, Kate was raised by her mother, grandmother, and her great grandmother in St. Louis (“Kate Chopin). Which led to her feminist in her writings that was not approved of at the time. She had her education at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis, She was exposed to Catholic teachings and the French who stressed upon the intellectual discipline. Kate was interested in writing, reading, and music. She graduated in 1868 then she got married two years later.

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1248 Words | 5 Pages

Leeanna Whittle Ms. Hutto English 3-1st 26 February 2016 Gender Stereotypes as far back as the 19th Century Kate Chopin is an American author who lived in the 19th century (Wyatt). Kate Chopin is known for being way beyond her time (Evans 262). She wrote about emotions and conflicts no other author of her time would ever think to write about (Evans 262). She grew up with two powerful women, her mom and grandmother, who influenced her views on society (Wyatt).

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1061 Words | 5 Pages

Chopin demonstrates not only how men treat women, but also how important it was to be white in this post-civil war era. When Armand was the head of his house, he would not let Desiree make any changes to his house. He made sure that she knew that he was the alpha male. This is the thing that Kate hated the most as a woman was having no say in any part of the world. Kate as many other woman, even though they were white, still had no say.

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Chopin also creates contrast in the woman’s place in society by how she depicts the characters when they’re introduced. When a male character is introduced his job and accomplishments are highlighted. When a female character is introduced her body image and presentation are highlighted, no matter how great her accomplishments are. “She was a homely woman with a small weazened face and body that glowed. She had absolutely no taste in dress, and wore a batch of rusty black lace with

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1046 Words | 5 Pages

Chopin uses women such as Calixta and Clarisse as examples of women gaining their freedom back within marriage. Calixta finds her freedom by having an affair with a man who isn’t her husband, while Clarisse takes a long vacation away from her husband to experience her freedom again. This allows for them to be less pressured from marriage. These women are breaking the boundaries of an ideal marriage, which allows them to no longer feel like their imprisoning themselves and to be open to more opportunities. Women of the nineteenth century have many expectations they live by.

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1285 Words | 6 Pages

Chopin was brought up in what was probably one of America’s most devastating eras- the Civil War. Eleven year old Catherine witnessed her country in conflict, and was torn between the union and confederacy because her home state, Missouri, consisted of citizens who supported both parties (Clark).   She also had to face this catastrophe without a father whom died in a railroad accident when she was only five.

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791 Words | 4 Pages

Kate Chopin reveals how language, institutions, and expected behavior restrain the natural desires and aspirations of women in patriarchal societies. In 1894, when this story was formed, culture had its own structure on marriage and the conduct towards women. Gender roles play a major role throughout our history. They would decide whether a woman in colonial times would be allowed to join the labor

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765 Words | 4 Pages

In "A Respectable Woman," Kate Chopin digs in to examine the psychology of Mrs. Baroda, a rich woman with a loving husband who encounters temptation in the person of Gouvernail, a well-mannered, humble visitor to the Baroda’s plantation. Mrs. Baroda is tempted early in the story with the view of a change from a noiseless, more conventional life, Mrs. Baroda does not immediately identifies what she really wants and finally struggles with the self-inflicted restrictions of her personality as "a respectable woman." Nonetheless, just as the narrative suggests that she has found the power to overcome her emotions, Mrs. Baroda spoke to her husband and proposes a sweetly unclear statement that revives the question of her intention to act upon her emotions. She tells him, "I have overcome everything!

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1469 Words | 6 Pages

Women in the 1890s were expected to work at home to keep their husbands comfortable and bear him children. Kate Chopin wrote most of her short stories during this time period. Her stories “A Respectable Woman” and “A Story of an Hour” show a female protagonist who want their freedom and control over their own lives. Her characters pushed the bounds of the roles that society gave them and showed the brutal reality of how women were treated in the 1890s. In “A Respectable Woman” the female protagonist Mrs. Baroda is married and lives on a plantation with her husband, who invites a friend to spend a week or two with them.

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926 Words | 4 Pages

Meanwhile, during this age women had a restriction on how they could feel and act their whole life. Nevertheless Chopin shows a girl who has the privilege of going where she truly wants to go during this narrative after developing into a sophisticated young women. Another way freedom interprets this story is using religious aspects. When Kate Chopin refers to the “la Madone” (26), this is a statue that represents Mary and Jesus when he was a child. This statue serves as a symbol of what Babette believes, and how in this time, she had to believe the way her family believes.

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770 Words | 4 Pages

The story also argues that freedom is a very powerful force that affects the mental or emotional state of a person. Chopin argues that only through death can one be finally freed. The author makes strong, yet subtle statements towards humanity and women’s rights. Through subtle symbolism, Kate Chopin demonstrates how marriage is more like a confining role of servitude rather than a

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