Kate Chopin
A woman Ahead of Her Time
(1850~1904)
“Perhaps it is better to wake up after all,
even to suffer; than to remain a dupe to
illusions all one’s life.”
Kate Chopin(1850~1904)
Work
Short story
The story of an Hour
Novel
The Awakening
Theme
• women's search for self-discovery or identity.
• women's revolt against gender conformity or against social
norms that limit women's possibilities in life.
• women's understanding of feminine sexuality or women's
experience of motherhood, pregnancy, or childbirth.
The story of an Hour
3→ She did not hear the story as many women have
heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to
accept its significance.
4 → facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy
armchair
5 → Trees were all aquiver with the new spring life.
The delicious breath of rain.
A peddler was crying his wares.
A distant song reached her faintly.
Countless sparrows were twittering.
6 → There were patches of blue sky
showing here and there through the
clouds that had met and piled one
above the other.
8 → She was young, with a calm face,
whose lines bespoke repression. But now
there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose
gaze was not a glance of reflection, but
rather indicated a suspension of
intelligent thought.
11 → She said it over and over under her
breath: "free, free, free!" There would
be no one to live for during those
coming years; she would live for herself.
13 → She knew that she would weep again
when she saw the kind, tender hands
folded in death; the face that had never
looked save with love upon her.
21 → Someone was opening the front door
with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard
who entered.
23 → When the doctors came they said she
had died of heart disease--of the joy
that kills.
American women’s status in
19th century
 Enjoyed few of the legal, social, or political
rights.
 Remained subservient to their fathers and
husbands.
 Limited control over personal property after
marriage.
 Barred from higher education.
American women’s status in 19th
century
 Middle- and upper-class women
Caring their children
Doing the household
 Lower-class women
Work outside the home
Poorly-paid domestic servants
First-wave feminism
 During 19th century to early 20th century
 Focus on…
The promotion of equal contract
Property rights
Gaining political power
The right of voting
Reference
 http://www.katechopin.org/
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Chopin
 http://www.bookrags.com/essay
 LCTD英文文學與文化教學資料庫
 英美文學名著課堂教材
Thanks for your attention~
第九組
組員 徐灩 王姿靜 賴映伶 陳信璋