The AwakeningThe Awakening

BACKGROUND ON THE BACKGROUND ON THE PERIOD, AUTHOR, AND TEXTPERIOD, AUTHOR, AND TEXT

Kate Chopin: The Early YearsKate Chopin: The Early Years

Born in St. Louis, MO in 1850Born in St. Louis, MO in 1850

Life was full of tragedy; largely deathLife was full of tragedy; largely death

Attended Sacred Heart AcademyAttended Sacred Heart Academy

After her father’s death, raised by her mother, After her father’s death, raised by her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother (all widows)grandmother, and great-grandmother (all widows)

Role of the Civil WarRole of the Civil War

St. Louis was a pro-North citySt. Louis was a pro-North city

Only documented female friend was forced Only documented female friend was forced to retreat to the Southto retreat to the South

A noted time of changeA noted time of change

DeathDeath

Though one of 5 children, Chopin was the Though one of 5 children, Chopin was the only one to survive beyond 25 years of ageonly one to survive beyond 25 years of age

Many family members died around Holy Many family members died around Holy Days, instilling a strong sense of skepticism Days, instilling a strong sense of skepticism surrounding religionsurrounding religion

MarriageMarriage

Married Oscar Chopin at the age of 20Married Oscar Chopin at the age of 20

Both French Catholic backgroundBoth French Catholic background

He adored her, admired independence and He adored her, admired independence and intelligence and “allowed” her unheard of freedomintelligence and “allowed” her unheard of freedom

Gave birth to 5 boys and 2 girls before she was 28Gave birth to 5 boys and 2 girls before she was 28

More TragedyMore Tragedy

Oscar was not an able businessman; returned to Oscar was not an able businessman; returned to his old home in rural Louisiana (from New his old home in rural Louisiana (from New Orleans) and died of swamp feverOrleans) and died of swamp fever

Chopin moved her family to St. Louis to live with Chopin moved her family to St. Louis to live with her motherher mother

Mother died the next year- this began her writing Mother died the next year- this began her writing careercareer

Inspiration for Inspiration for The Awakening The Awakening and and ReceptionReception

Based on stories of people she’d known in Based on stories of people she’d known in New OrleansNew Orleans

Content and message of Content and message of The AwakeningThe Awakening caused an uproarcaused an uproar

Parallels between Chopin and Edna Parallels between Chopin and Edna because both defied societal rulesbecause both defied societal rules

KKüünstleromannstleroman

Like a Bildungsroman, but centered around Like a Bildungsroman, but centered around growth as an artistgrowth as an artist

The Awakening The Awakening is a tale of a woman who is a tale of a woman who struggles to realize herself and her artistic struggles to realize herself and her artistic abilityability

Historical and Cultural BackgroundHistorical and Cultural Background

Written at the end of the 19Written at the end of the 19thth century century– Conflict between the old and newConflict between the old and new– World’s FairWorld’s Fair– DarwinDarwin– Criticism of the BibleCriticism of the Bible– Women’s SuffrageWomen’s Suffrage– Industrial Age (Machine Age)Industrial Age (Machine Age)

LouisianaLouisiana

In addition to the changes the country was In addition to the changes the country was facing, Louisiana had its own set of facing, Louisiana had its own set of problems:problems:– Mix of three cultures: American, Southern, and Mix of three cultures: American, Southern, and

CreoleCreole– Aftermath of the Civil War still reverberatingAftermath of the Civil War still reverberating– Edna’s father is a good example of this.Edna’s father is a good example of this.

Creole CultureCreole Culture

CatholicCatholic Creole women were very conservativeCreole women were very conservative Frank and open in discussing marriages and Frank and open in discussing marriages and

children b/c of understood moral nature and children b/c of understood moral nature and chastitychastity

Deep and personal commitment to fidelityDeep and personal commitment to fidelity– Adele is a good example of thisAdele is a good example of this

Creole Culture Continued…Creole Culture Continued…

Louisiana operated under a different legal Louisiana operated under a different legal systemsystem

Feminist movement had little hope in the Feminist movement had little hope in the statestate– A woman belonged to her husbandA woman belonged to her husband– Under Article 1124, married women were Under Article 1124, married women were

equated with babies and the mentally ill and equated with babies and the mentally ill and were deemed incompetent to make a contractwere deemed incompetent to make a contract

Industrial Age and Lower Class Industrial Age and Lower Class Women’s IndependenceWomen’s Independence

With the Machine Age, the crafts women With the Machine Age, the crafts women had always produced in their homes had always produced in their homes became a mass-producible industrybecame a mass-producible industry

Conditions were hazardous, the pay was Conditions were hazardous, the pay was low, and women’s income was the property low, and women’s income was the property of their husbands, but first move toward of their husbands, but first move toward female independence female independence

Upper and Middle Class WomenUpper and Middle Class Women

Expected to stay home as idle, decorative symbols Expected to stay home as idle, decorative symbols of their husbands’ wealthof their husbands’ wealth

““angels of the house”angels of the house” Pregnant frequentlyPregnant frequently Cared for their homes, their husbands, their Cared for their homes, their husbands, their

children; played music, drew and sangchildren; played music, drew and sang Often brought a dowry or inherited wealth to the Often brought a dowry or inherited wealth to the

marriagemarriage AdeleAdele

SuffrageSuffrage

Women began to rise up (Elizabeth Cady Women began to rise up (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Coffin Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Coffin Mott)Mott)

Declaration of SentimentsDeclaration of Sentiments Labeled unfeminine, immoralLabeled unfeminine, immoral 1515thth Ammendment (1870) gave right to vote Ammendment (1870) gave right to vote

regardless of color or creedregardless of color or creed

Climate of the TimeClimate of the Time The Awakening The Awakening is representative of the timeis representative of the time Chopin was ostracizedChopin was ostracized Praised for her skill as a writer, but demonized for Praised for her skill as a writer, but demonized for

contentcontent– ““Not a healthy book.”Not a healthy book.”– ““Sex fiction.”Sex fiction.”– ““Unhealthy introspection and morbid.”Unhealthy introspection and morbid.”

The novel encapsulates the struggle of women The novel encapsulates the struggle of women during this time and speaks to the painful processduring this time and speaks to the painful process

Literary ContextLiterary Context

Romantic Movement:Romantic Movement:– Assertion of the self, power of the individual, Assertion of the self, power of the individual,

sense of the infinite and transcendental nature of sense of the infinite and transcendental nature of the universethe universe

– Relationship between nature and manRelationship between nature and man

– Making success of failure, American landscape, Making success of failure, American landscape, power of man to conquer the land, and power of man to conquer the land, and individualismindividualism

Romanticism in Romanticism in The AwakeningThe Awakening

Exotic localeExotic locale Emphasis on natureEmphasis on nature Use of colorUse of color

Overriding romantic theme: Edna’s search Overriding romantic theme: Edna’s search for individuality and freedomfor individuality and freedom

Naturalism and RealismNaturalism and Realism Stresses real over fantasticStresses real over fantastic Societal changes- Bible, DarwinSocietal changes- Bible, Darwin Uncaring aspects of nature and destiny of manUncaring aspects of nature and destiny of man Life was viewed as relentlessLife was viewed as relentlessRealism in Realism in The Awakening:The Awakening: Portrayal of Edna as hostage to her biologyPortrayal of Edna as hostage to her biology Women as economic possessionsWomen as economic possessions Edna as a victim of nature and fateEdna as a victim of nature and fate Local colorLocal color

Myths and Fairy TalesMyths and Fairy Tales

Aphrodite (Venus)Aphrodite (Venus)– Goddess of love and beautyGoddess of love and beauty– Sprang from sea birthSprang from sea birth– Sea renews virginitySea renews virginity– Represented through passion and waterRepresented through passion and water

Artemis (Diana)Artemis (Diana)

Apollo’s twin sisterApollo’s twin sister Goddess of the woods and wild thingsGoddess of the woods and wild things Defense of womenDefense of women 3 parts: land, sky, and underworld 3 parts: land, sky, and underworld

(moonless night)(moonless night)

Echo and NarcissusEcho and Narcissus Echo was a beautiful nymph who was fond of Echo was a beautiful nymph who was fond of

talkingtalking Kept Hera talking and let Hera’s prey escape. Kept Hera talking and let Hera’s prey escape.

Hera cursed her: “You shall forfeit the use of that Hera cursed her: “You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me. You tongue with which you have cheated me. You shall still have the last word, but no power to shall still have the last word, but no power to speak it.”speak it.”

Echo fell in love with Narcissus. Narcissus Echo fell in love with Narcissus. Narcissus rejected her, Echo faded into the hills. Later, fell in rejected her, Echo faded into the hills. Later, fell in love with his image.love with his image.

Gulf SpiritGulf Spirit

Spirits that come out of the sea to look for a Spirits that come out of the sea to look for a mate or wifemate or wife

IcarusIcarus

Fashioned wings out of wax to escape the Fashioned wings out of wax to escape the labryinthlabryinth

His father cautioned him not to fly to low or His father cautioned him not to fly to low or too high, but to keep a middle coursetoo high, but to keep a middle course

Icarus flew too high. His wings melted and Icarus flew too high. His wings melted and he fell into the sea and drowned.he fell into the sea and drowned.

PsychePsyche

Youngest of 3 princessesYoungest of 3 princesses Beauty outshone AphroditeBeauty outshone Aphrodite Aphrodite was envious and forced Eros to Aphrodite was envious and forced Eros to

make Psyche fall in love with the vilest make Psyche fall in love with the vilest creaturecreature

Eros fell in love with her insteadEros fell in love with her instead

Fairy TalesFairy Tales

Think about pattern and structureThink about pattern and structure Women as main character:Women as main character:

– ChildhoodChildhood– In adolescence a spell is cast- leads to sleep or isolationIn adolescence a spell is cast- leads to sleep or isolation– Keeps them innocentKeeps them innocent– A hero arrives, finds the innocent woman and she is A hero arrives, finds the innocent woman and she is

worthy of love and happiness.worthy of love and happiness.

Note this idea with EdnaNote this idea with Edna

Fairy TalesFairy Tales

Men as heroMen as hero– Stories of questStories of quest– Series of challenges, completes them, takes place in the Series of challenges, completes them, takes place in the

worldworld

-Edna has a spell to overcome (unawakened self)-Edna has a spell to overcome (unawakened self)-Edna combines both male and female fairy tale aspects -Edna combines both male and female fairy tale aspects

of her lifeof her life

Goldilocks and Snow WhiteGoldilocks and Snow White