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The Theme Of Loss Of Innocence In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

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Catherine O'Flaherty was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 8, 1850. Kate grew up speaking both French and English. Kate attended the St. Louis Academy of the Sacred Heart, with one year at the Academy of the Visitation. Kate Chopin was an American feminist writer, she wrote two novels, and wrote more than a hundred short stories and sketches. Her great grandmother inspired her to get into French culture and feminism. "Most of the fiction Kate wrote as an adult draws on the nurturing she received from women as she was growing up." In 1899 her novel, "The Awakening, was condemned for its frank treatment of a young woman's sexual and artistic growth. Now it is recognized both for the quality of the writing and for its importance as an …show more content…

Like in "The Story of an Hour" the quote at the end states, "When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills." They are referring to when she hears that her husband died she felt a little bit more of happiness than sadness because now she will have freedom and get to live her life with joy. Also in the short story, "Beyond the Bayou", ends when La Folle realizes that the "end of her fear in the world outside of the bayou's boundaries has given her a world of new possibilities".They are stating that she has more opportunities in life if she would just get to be out in the world and not to fear about anything because she is free and she can't be controlled. "The Story of an Hour" "She saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome". …show more content…

She believes that a desire for freedom includes a desire to be free of society's expectations, which is meaning giving something up is the only option to be free in society. Showing a desire for freedom can also include a desire for freedom from a husband, stating that losing someone that has more power over you can lead to a better life in the long run also not having a husband. Having a loss of innocence can also be a loss of innocence of betrayal, meaning doing something to feel like something is going to change but it ends up being tied to betrayal. Using the loss of innocence to be used also for the loss of innocence of death, she felt like she wanted to die to live a better life without someone only to have

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The melancholy tone Chopin uses throughout the story implies that despite Enda and Louise seeking freedom from societal restrictions their quest for freedom will eventually end in a tragedy. Chopin expresses how Louise and Edna’s journey to freedom led them both to their death . “When the doctor came, they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills.” (The Story of An Hour). Due to Louise already having a heart problem prior to her excitement of being free this whole situation became overwhelming for her since she felt so many emotions at once.

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