THE AWAKENING BY KATE CHOPIN

I've been thinking lately about how contemporary criticism affects an author's ability or willingness to write from her heart and soul.  Kate Chopin was harshly criticized for her short story, The Awakening, written in 1899.  She was accused by one critic that she out "zoloffed" French writer, Emile Zola for portraying the raw, vulgar, grittiness of life.  If you want an example of Zola's work check out Nana.  

On the other hand, Frank Norris, major American naturalist writer criticized Chopin (and really all female writers of his time) for not having the stamina to produce fiction because they lacked experience.  A little wiki on Mr. Norris right here.


IN OTHER WORDS, KATE CHOPIN WAS DEMMED IF SHE DID AND DEMMED IF SHE DIDN'T!


Chopin was also criticized not for her writing, but that she didn't bring down judgment on her character, Edna Pontellier.  She maintained narrator objectivity.  


Edna Pontellier is a 29 year old woman trying to claim her identity.  She is married to a very possessive husband and the mother of two little boys.  She is seeking solitude.  

"The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmmering, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in the abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation."

As she begins to find solitude, the text alludes to the work of Emerson who has a good bit to say about solitude:


It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after one's own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.


I'm right there with Edna.  I had two small boys around that age too.  She is somewhat muddled in her mind.  Who wouldn't be, I ask?  She is a very emotional girl.  She needs a moment of quiet just to hear herself think.  I get it, Edna.


Chopin keeps from calling down judgment on Edna, but her desire not to do that did, in fact, cause her critics to call the judgment down on her.  In her lifetime, she never published another story.  What a shame.  

 **Many of my opinions were formulated after discussion with a great group of women in my American Writers class.