KATE CHOPIN

English I Mrs. Jeffries

Kate Chopin

born Kate O’Flaherty in St. Louis in 1850

a St. Louis debutant and marries Oscar Chopin in 1870

moves to New Orleans

Oscar dies in 1882 of malaria

left with six children, debt, and a struggling family store to run

has an affair with a local

Background cont’d

returns to St. Louis in 1884 to be with her mother, mother dies 1 yr. later

starts to write (therapeutic) and publish full-time

“ The Story of An Hour” and “A Pair of Silk Stockings” published in a collection of short stories Bayou Folk in 1894

The Awakening, (originally titled A Solitary Soul), is published in 1899—basiclly ends her career Chopin and her novel were rebuked by the

press for Edna’s behavior It was called “shocking,” “sickening,” and

“poison.” dies 1904 of a brain hemorrhage

Impact on American society

Feminism: regarded as one of the pioneers of early American feminism, helped bring attention to women’s rights moments influenced later feminist authors and critics

not a social reformer goal was to describe accurately, the lives of

women and men in the nineteenth-century America she knew

 

Foreshadowing

the use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in the plot purpose is to create suspense

Foreshadowing

“The Story of An Hour” Unique and ironic reaction to her husband’s death

Louise's beautiful face "whose lines bespoke (signify) repression." Chopin mentions that her face reflected "repression"; so, the woman felt repressed in her role as a wife--indicating that she might not be sad to be relieved of that role. 

Then, as Louise looks out the window after hearing of the tragedy of her husband's death, she sees "the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. ...and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.“

Chopin writes that Louise could sense a feeling coming and "was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it?"

Foreshadowing cont’d

“The Story of An Hour” Louise’s unfortunate demise at the end of the

story In the beginning of the story, the reader views Mrs.

Mallard’s sister and Richards being afraid to tell Mrs. Mallard of her husband’s death because they were afraid of how her heart would take it…“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death.” Wouldn’t it also makes sense then that she would have heart trouble in being shocked at the news of his still being alive?

Irony the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning:

Verbal Irony Verbal irony is when someone says the

opposite of what they really mean.Dramatic irony In dramatic irony, the audience knows more

about what's going on in a story than the characters do.

Situational Irony Situational irony occurs when the outcome of a

situation is the opposite of what you expected it to be.

Verbal irony The ending, when Louise dies, supposedly of "a

joy that kills,"

Situational irony Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to the news of her

husband’s death Mr. Mallard actually being alive at the end Mrs. Mallard not dying when she heard the bad

news, her husband is dead, but when she heard the good news, her husband is alive and walked through the door, she dies

“A Pair of Silk Stockings” Irony (discrepancy between appearances and reality)

Situational Mrs. Sommers receives the windfall of some money, she

plans the "judicious use of the money."  However, ironically, it is not for the children that she spends her money, nor is her choice frugal, although this is what she ponders:

Mrs. Sommers "was one who knew the value of bargains; who could stand for hours making her way inch by inch toward the desired object.." when, in fact, Mrs. Sommers indulges herself quietly and quickly.

Verbal Title “A Pair of Silk Stockings” suggests a narrative

for the rich; it is not