The Awakeing
...and experiences, as well as society’s beliefs about females. The Awakening is one of her stories that caused controversy because of its themes about female independence, sexuality, oppression, and infidelity as seen through her eyes
In 1848, a few years before the birth of Kate O’Flaherty, a women’s convention in Seneca Falls New York was held. The purpose of this convention was to begin the planning of reforms that would make the lives of women better. At that time, women had no right to vote, were not allowed to work or be self sufficient, and if married, considered not as an individual, but as property of their husbands (Catt et al. 6). Over the next 40 years, and as Kate O’Flaherty was growing up, several women’s rights conventions were held, and women such as Susan B Anthony, Lucy Stone, and Sorjornor Truth, traveled across the country speaking about women’s civil rights. During this period of time, women, not only desired their right to independence, but also desired control of their own sexuality. The sexual desires of women were considered to be inappropriate and not natural. Sexual desire was assumed to threaten mental health. Pro-creation was the only valid reason for women to engage in sexual intercourse. Because of these beliefs, independence, sexual desire and passion were not written of in most literary works of the 19th Century. Kate Chopin crossed these boundaries, with The Awakening, describing the sexual desires of Edna Ponteiller, and her infidelities with lovers.
Louisiana, during this period of time was made up of three different ethnic groups. They were American, Southern, and Creole. The Creole ethnicity is generally known as a people of mixed French, African, Spanish, and Native American ancestry, most of whom resided in Louisiana. This culture began as combination of the old and the new when the country was still being...
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