Jie Chen
ENG 212
Dr. Bruce. R. Magee
Review “Unraveling the Southern Pastoral Tradition:
A New Look at Kate Chopin’s At Fault”
At Fault, is Kate Chopin’s first novel and reflects herself life, but is “forgotten in
academic study” (1). Since that, the author of this article, Anderson, carefully analyzed
Chopin’s article and discussed what is not immediately discovered by readers. It is nineteenthcentury southern pastoral conventions, which are manipulated by Chopin in At Fault, to deal
with flaws in southern society.
First, Anderson analyzed the setting of At Fault. Although, the setting was shaped in a
pastoral mold, it was “altered throughout the novel until no longer traditionally pastoral
changed in the novel” (2). The setting of the novel is in “rural and seclude of Place du Bois”,
“like a traditional southern pastoral”, but this setting is “ugly intruded” by a new railroad,
which is “a symbol of movement and progress” (2, 4). Furthermore, he discussed that the pine
woods and the rose trees in Place du Bois also had the symbolic meaning, which are barriers
for the development of southern society. However, these trees are challenged by the river and
oak trees, which are the “motivation” and “new ways of life” (5, 7). Eventually, the old
society is replaced by industrial society. Second, Anderson discussed the pastoral character
that was changed in the novel. The main character of the novel is Thérèse, a master of the
plantation, but she is an ideal female. Anderson pointed out that “the pastoral gender role in At
Fault, inverted when the female protagonist assumes the traditionally male pastoral role” (2).
At the opening of the novel, Thérèse was “as secluded from the outside” and “protected the
old southern code of righteousness” (8). However, she changed because she saw the error of
her way and influenced by outsiders of the world. In the end of the novel, she had become
“adventurous outside of Place du Bois” and transformed into “a partner and wife” (11, 12).
Finally, Anderson explained the conclusion of the novel, which is the marriage of Thérèse and
Hosmer. He thought that the marriage promised “a future for a new way of life, not for a
traditional pastoral lifestyle” (11).
Through analyzing At Fault, Anderson found that the novel was about “change” and
these changes described by Chopin were “progressive and beneficial” (3). And he thought
Chopin exposed “the old ideals and morals as obsolete in a new South by manipulating the
conventions of southern pastoral” (13). In addition, he pointed out that At Fault included more
Chopin’s personal experience. She used the novel not only to challenge the Old South, but
also to “accomplish what she was unable to do in real life” (13).Thus, he thought that At Fault
remained “significant as an early novel by Chopin” (13).
Before I read this article, I thought At Fault was a simple variation on the kinds of
reunion fiction produced after the Civil War: a northern man and a southern woman met and
fell in love. After overcoming some obstacles, they married, which was a symbol of reunited
country. However, now, I deeply understood the meanings of At Fault, which is to reveal a
progressive South of industrial and social equality. Through this article, I not only saw the real
people and society of Louisiana from Chopin’s opinion, but also understood what outmoded
and detrimental southern traditions were in nineteenth- century South. It also helped me learn
more about the history of American. In addition, this article helped me to know Chopin more
fully. She is a talented writer and a woman way ahead of the times. Thus, this article is very
worth reading and useful for studying At Fault.
Word Cited
Anderson, Maureen. “Unraveling the Southern Pastoral Tradition: A New Look at Kate
Chopin’s At Fault.” Southern Literary Journal, (Fall 2001): 1-13.