Kate Chopin

Paper Summary:

This paper presents a biographical background to the life and upbringing of Katherine O'Flaherty, who we know today as Kate Chopin. The paper describes the superb education she received which was unusual for girls in the mid 19th century. Her marriage to Oscar Chopin is covered in the paper, as well as the early influences on her writing. The paper mentions several of Chopin's works, but focuses on the book "The Awakening". The paper explains how "The Awakening" initially received lots of negative criticism and was only acknowledged for its worth after Chopin died. The paper presents a review of this book.

From the Paper:

"Kate Chopin (Katherine O'Flaherty) was born on February 8, 1850 to Thomas O'Flaherty, an Irish immigrant, and Eliza Faris, a Creole. On November 1, 1855, Thomas O'Flaherty joined city leaders in celebration of a new line of the Pacific Railroad. As the train crossed a bridge, the structure buckled under the weight. Ten cars plunged thirty feet into the river, amidst rain and lightning. Thomas, Kate's father, and 29 others were killed in the incident (Fourrier). Kate was only five, in a household now run solely by women. Her great-grandmother, Victoire Charleville, was determined to take over her education. She taught Kate music and French in the evenings. By day Kate attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart. The nuns there gave Kate an elite education for French intellectual women. This was unusual because most girls didn't go to school at all (Fourrier)."

More papers on Kate Chopin:

• Book Review # 36005 : "Awakening by Kate Chopin"
• Essay # 137416 : "Analyzing Symbolism and the Submissive Role of Victorian Women in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin"
• Analytical Essay # 2405 : "Kate Chopin's Views on Marriage"
• Analytical Essay # 83733 : "Kate Chopin's Short Stories"

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