How does Kat Chopin Represent Women In her Short Stories

The first 200 words of this essay...

How Does Kate Chopin Represent Women in her Short Stories

By

Oliver Flint

How Does Kate Chopin Represent Women in her Short Stories

I will be focusing on two of Kate Chopin's works, A Pair of Silk Stockings and Désirée's Baby. But, Before you can understand the stories you must first understand the writer and her social background.

Chopin lived in a period of history that both undervalued and objectified women. A girl belonged to her family until she was married, and after marriage she belonged to her husband. Women were expected to be adornments for their husband's arm, like jewellery to act any differently was almost taboo. Furthermore the laws of the time restricted women as well, The Louisiana Code (article 1124) judged women "Incompetent of making a contract" and judged to be as competent as children and the mentally infirm!

Kate herself lived in a French-Creole society one of far greater constrictions and expectations of women. Women's fidelity were not doubted and women were expected to be totally honest and truthful at all times they were not meant to keep secrets from other Creole women.

If a wife had a talent