Kate Chopin, The Face of Enigmatic Feminist Literary Works - Essay Example

Kate Chopin: The Face of Enigmatic Feminist Literary Works Introduction Kate Chopin, the enigmatic face has occupied the enigmatic literary stratum both in her time and in the present world, but more controversially, her masterpiece, the sole novel, The Awakening. The book focuses on a woman, who muddles through a marriage life in the nineteenth century, however, in recent years, more glaring critic have termed the book as openly feminist. This book is not her only work, it is the penultimate of her various literary works that have majorly been short fiction. This paper explores the controversial author’s life in light of her literary work. Kate Chopin’s Birth and Redefinition The raft of short stories was in fact the foundation upon which her master piece is built on and. James et al (334) claim that her first story, At Fault, was a mediocre novel, pointing towards the foundation upon which the masterpiece novel benefitted from. This does not happen in isolation as this is the usual metamorphosis of most writers, mostly developing their writing skills through reliance on other writer’s works and a personal growth towards the development of a master piece. According to Baker (245), Chopin was immensely influenced in her writing skills by a host of French male writers. Her echo on feminist authors of the 19th and 20th century is undaunted among her peers. Born Katherine O’Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri in 1851, to a successful businessman and an emigrant from Ireland in Galway and a mother who ad deep connections among the French community in St Louis. She was the third among five siblings, but all of them died at various stages of their childhood. Her father passed when she was only five, and this in turn prompted her to develop strong bond with her mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Oakes (82) insisted that this background being surrounded by strong female characters could have informed her resolve to advocate for feminist, perhaps, within the boundaries of literature. In fact her mother, grandmother and great mother had a unique and peculiar feature, they were all widows (Chopin et al, 124). During her early years writing career she was a vivid contributor of some sought to certain magazines, writing children stories and a reader of folk tale stories and much more. Marriage and Widow Re-examination She married Oscar in 1870 at the tender age of 20 and by the age of 28, she had had six children and the family settled in New Orleans, but when her husband business took a down side, the family moved south to Cloutirerville and had a general store and managed small plantations. Her characters in her fiction literary work, most analysts of her works believe were drawn from her interaction with the Creole slave populations working in these plantations. She became an active member of the community in that area, much like her husband. In 1882, Oscar died living her in huge debt to the tune of $12, 000, but she took over her family business and as a widow, Kate came in contact with men and began to hold a grip of their machinations. According to Flora, Amber and Bryan (72), ‘while Chopin was living in Cloutierville, Oscar had a store and Kate conducted herself in ways that locals found to be shocking; flirting with married men, riding horses down main streets and an open affair with Albert Sampite, a reputable plantation owner. Indeed even in married life Chopin had earmarked herself in some sought of female liberation. The society of the 19th century was a conservative one and her shocking adventurous female liberal actions contrasted sharply with the demands of the society, yet mirrored in her female characters. Edna Pontillier, the main character in the Awakening cold perhaps reflect on the real life of the author, especially her morals begs a lot of question. The character in the book could be interpreted in several ways, for instance, feminist could consider her the epitome of female liberalization, whereas conservative male chauvinism and female members of the society who have contacted to the conservative life would consider the character a selfish, fallen woman, and a bad mother. Martin (10) asserts that the male members of the society did not share in her perspectives, and in fact, the Reflection mirrors her own actions as Charlie, a young married woman flirts with whomsoever she is pleased with. In her mind, the author asserted that it was the role of the strong women of the society to lead fellow women to liberation, away from the male dominated society. Edna epitomizes when in Chopin (71) insisted that the main character, “would swim where no woman had swam before’. The character in a period when the society is not open to sexual issues, points to the societal definition of a bad woman (Bloom, 183). Indeed, the book had a attempted to redefine the female role in the society, both in construction and in construction, especially with regard to the period the book was penned down. As a writer who is conscious of her own female thoughts, her writing became her mouthpiece to the society to absorb what the female members of the society thought inwardly, and were unable to bring outwardly such thoughts. This was brought more vividly when Shaker (112) asserted that Chopin in the short story, Aunt Lympy’s Interference used a female character, Melitte’s ambivalence about her departure to reflect on the widely held cultural assumption about female desire-what they want out of life. The independence displayed by the character, Melittle, much to the Chagrin of Aunt Lip, her uncle, her siblings and the society she had settled with confirms that indeed the author’s main quest was to illuminate to the literary society the strength of the independent women in the society. Analysts of her work, indeed assert that the novel, the Awakening was some of the precursor of female rights groups that pressed for a more gender equal society in the United States in the 1970s. Death, Immortality and Conclusion In the mid 1880s the mother of six children sold most of her properties in Cloutierville, Louisiana and left for St Louis to be reconnected with her mother, and shortly after her mother passed on. It was at this point that she took literary work with a storm, both for proposes of income for her young family and for passion. Her feminist principles drove her to the extent that she was unable to sarcastic comment on her son’s vivacious wife (Toth, 65) her writings and influence and controversies generated through her literary work live on past her death which occurred in 1904. Annotated Bibliography Barker, Deborah. Aesthetics and Gender in American Literature: Portraits of the Woman Artist. Lewisberg [Pa.: Bucknell University Press, 2000. Print The book focuses on the popular American literal juggernauts application of female artistry to change their alter ego to redefine the length and breadth of culture as perceived by the society. Kate Chopin a literal iconic figure recognized later in her life for a much controversial writings that redefined the previously abhorred role of women in the society especially on sexuality feature prominently on this works. Bloom, Harold. Kate Chopin. New York: Chelsea House, 1987. Print. The author explores Kate Chopin’s short stories, articles and novels work and indulge on the general perceptions of Kate Chopin. He opines the general perceptions of Chopin. Indeed Chopin had distinguished writing skills. Currently, the author remarks that Chopin is reveled for her work that is known for its play with a narrative style with a deep questioning into the complexities of women’s interior lives. Chopin, Kate, Emily Toth, Per Seyersted, and Cheyenne Bonnell. Kate Chopins Private Papers. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998. Internet resource The authors make available numerous manuscripts of all her works and an important move to unearth the real Chopin. The explosive work is a comprehensive understanding of the author, her thoughts and the choice of characters in her literary work. Chopin, Kate. The Awakening H.S. Stone & Company, 1899. Internet resource. The book is set during the summer and Edna who is married to Leonce is not motherly but falls in love to another man, Robert. These drive her from her marriage when finally she writes to her husband that is quitting the entire union. Her love for Robert makes her swim the Grand isle never to make a return. Flora, Joseph M, Amber Vogel, and Bryan A. Giemza. Southern Writers: A New Biographical Dictionary. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2006. Print. This book explores the literary work done by Americans in the South. The book provides a raft of southern writers which range from journalists to novelists. The book explores the subject of this texts interest, Kate Chopin and provides a vivid look. Intriguing and concise, the book provides the picture for the understanding of most Southern writers. James, Edward., James, Janet, and Boyer, Paul. Notable American Women, 1607-1950, Records, 1958. Print. As a woman appreciated for her literary prowess in the 20th century, though shunned by the conservative society in the 19th century when her books were penned. The book provides the right avenue to appreciate the work and analysis of her thought process when noting her works down. In as much as the text is inevitably literature oriented the books leaning towards history cannot be escaped, and that of Kate Chopin. Martin, Wendy. New Essays on the Awakening. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Print. The book provides an explorative analysis on The Awakening; particularly on the controversies generated in the 19th century. According to the author, the two important themes covered in Kate Chopin’s book that invoke a lot of debates are adultery and divorce. The novel according to the author was criticized and rejected for the vulgar and unhealthy language covered by Kate Chopin. Oakes, Elizabeth H. Oakes, Elizabeth H. Oakes, Elizabeth H. American Writers. New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print. This book covers the breadth and length of notable American writers, but since the text covers the biographical criticisms of Kate Chopin, it automatically becomes the subject of the interest of this book. Shaker, Bonnie J. Coloring Locals: Racial Formation in Kate Chopins Youths Companion Stories. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2003. Internet resource. According to the author, Kate Chopin fueled ethnic, race, class and gender differences through her literary works. Through Chopin’s publishers, the Youth Companion, the writer explored her literary works and her messages in those works. Chopin’s works in general features themes of local, gender and class difference. Toth, Emily. Unveiling Kate Chopin. Jackson, Miss: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. Internet resource. Insightful Toth explores biographically Kate Chopin’s manuscripts and provide perhaps accurate outlook of the legendary literal icon. According to the author, Chopin had sets sights on becoming a controversial writer stemming from her own views on marriage and the role of women in the society. Works Cited Barker, Deborah. Aesthetics and Gender in American Literature: Portraits of the Woman Artist. Lewisberg [Pa.: Bucknell University Press, 2000. Print. Bloom, Harold. Kate Chopin. New York: Chelsea House, 1987. Print. Chopin, Kate, Emily Toth, Per Seyersted, and Cheyenne Bonnell. Kate Chopins Private Papers. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998. Internet resource. Chopin, Kate. The Awakening H.S. Stone & Company, 1899. Internet resource. Flora, Joseph M, Amber Vogel, and Bryan A. Giemza. Southern Writers: A New Biographical Dictionary. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2006. Print. James, Edward., James, Janet, and Boyer, Paul. Notable American Women, 1607-1950, Records, 1958. Print. Martin, Wendy. New Essays on the Awakening. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Print. Oakes, Elizabeth H. American Writers. New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print. Shaker, Bonnie J. Coloring Locals: Racial Formation in Kate Chopins Youths Companion Stories. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2003. Internet resource. Toth, Emily. Unveiling Kate Chopin. Jackson, Miss: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. Internet resource. Read More