Literary Movement

In 1899 Kate Chopin wrote her most famous novel The Awakening. This famous novel remains to be a significant title in feminist literature. In The Awakening, Kate Chopin’s character Edna leaves her husband and children to rediscover herself. During this time the scandalous novel created such a big controversy because Edna questions the idea of marriage, has sexual desires, and becomes entirely independent of her husband. Not only was the book but author Kate Chopin was far ahead of her time. In the nineteenth-century according to society, being a woman meant to be compliant, domestic, raise children and be obedient to their husbands. Edna has an affair leaves her family and chooses instead to practice a physical and sexual awakening. Through this novel Kate Chopin turned society’s expected roles down. Kate Chopin may have not been a social reformer but she was historically significant as a writer. She wanted to demonstrate the truth about women’s lives and the relationship with their husbands as she understood it. Kate Chopin was one of the first authors to openly write about women’s sexuality and their hidden lives. The feminist movement fought for women’s rights just like Kate Chopin’s writing did. Kate Chopin believed women should have rights, the right for women to be their true selves and the right to be free from men and society. Kate Chopin will always be a major figure in feminist literature. Kate Chopin you go girl!!

Works Cited:

Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 6: Late Nineteenth Century - Kate Chopin." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. URL:http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap6/chopin.html

Jhirad, Anna Reid. Kate Chopin: A Re-Awakening. PBS. 1998. 16 Oct. 2008.URL:http://www.pbs.org/katechopin/interviews.html

Walker, Nancy. Kate Chopin: The Awakening (in the Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism series), New York: St. Martins, 1993.