The Story of an HourPrepared by Ms. Rose June Prepared by Ms. Rose June

V. LocsinV. Locsin

Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin (1850-1904) Real Name: Katherine O’Flaherty

Date of Birth: Feb. 8, 1850

Father: Thomas O’ Flaherty

Mother: Eliza Flaris

Lineage: Irish-French

Nationality: American

Residence: St. Louis, Missouri

Husband: Oscar Chopin

Profession: businessman

Date of Marriage: June 9, 1870

Number of Children: six

Pseudonym: Kate Chopin

Profession: writer

Genre(s): Short Story;

Novel Subjects: Strong Women;

Controversial Topics; Social

Issues

As a girl, she was mentored by women—by

her mother, her grandmother, and her great

grandmother, as well as by the Sacred Heart

nuns.

In 1855, her father was killed in a railroad

accident.

Nine years after their marriage, Oscar

Chopin’s business became bankrupt.

Upon Oscar’s death in 1882, 32-year-old

Kate became a widow who had six children

to raise.

Together with her six children, she moved

back to her own family in Missouri.

Having been encouraged to write by Dr.

Frederick Kolbenheyer, her obstetrician and

a family friend, Kate began to write.

1890 - “At Fault”, Kate’s first novel, was

published privately.

1894 - Kate wrote “Lilacs” and “Her Letters”;

“The Story of an Hour” and “A Respectable

Woman” appeared in Vogue; “Bayou Folk”

was published.

Still in 1894, Kate Chopin made a comment

about the importance of describing "human

existence in its subtle, complex, true meaning,

stripped of the veil with which ethical and

conventional standards have draped it“. She

also believed that "truth rests upon a shifting

basis and is apt to be kaleidoscopic“.