Chopin Essay essays

Chopin Essay essays Kate Chopin: A Pioneer of Early Feminist Thought Throughout the history of mankind, women have played a subservient role in society. It has only been very recently that womens rights have dramatically improved. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Kate Chopin wrote literature, which espoused radical and provocative ideas about womens role in society. Chopins work was groundbreaking and controversial. In The Story of an Hour, Chopin relates the negative consequences resulting from societys undermining nature toward women, to the dramatic death of Louise Mallard. At the time in which The Story of an Hour is set, women were considered to be possessions belonging to their husbands. Men were expected to be the bread winners of the family, while women were charged with domestic responsibilities. The accepted belief was that women, being the weaker sex, were constitutionally dependent on their husbands. Louise Mallard is used to microcosmically represent the women of the world. Louise is portrayed as being extremely frail and is plagued by some type of heart troubles. Chopin uses Louises character to convey societys view of women as being frail creatures. The truth is, that Louise breaks the mold of convention and realizes the beauty of freedom. Louise is an extraordinary character; despite societys constraints, she decides she will be free in life or in death. Josephine and Richards represent society and their behavior is representative of contemporary ideals. Richards assumes the mans role, in Mr. Mallards sudden absence. Richards feels that he must protect Louise from, Less tender friends (Chopin 244). Josephine is unable to directly address Brentlys death to Louise, Josephines words are, Veiled hints that revealed in half concealing (Chopin 244). Like Richards, Josephine f...