Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman

Despite the revival of interest in Kate Chopin’s works during the twentieth century, her early fiction has not yet elicited as much critical appreciation as The Awakening has. The aim of this study is to show that Chopin’s first novel, At Fault, and the tale, “Lilacs”, exhibit the same genius and mo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Khoshnood, Ali, Talif, Rosli, Lalbakhsh, Pedram
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2013
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/27980/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/27980/1/Kate%20Chopin%E2%80%99s%20Early%20Fiction%20as%20a%20Prologue%20to%20the%20Emergence.pdf
_version_ 1848845989219139584
author Khoshnood, Ali
Talif, Rosli
Lalbakhsh, Pedram
author_facet Khoshnood, Ali
Talif, Rosli
Lalbakhsh, Pedram
author_sort Khoshnood, Ali
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Despite the revival of interest in Kate Chopin’s works during the twentieth century, her early fiction has not yet elicited as much critical appreciation as The Awakening has. The aim of this study is to show that Chopin’s first novel, At Fault, and the tale, “Lilacs”, exhibit the same genius and modern forms and features of her later fiction. Chopin’s authorial voice, strongly but covertly, addresses society’s flaws which are rooted in the illogical demands of the Christian religion and male moral philosophy. This study attempts to demonstrate that Chopin’s hidden anti-religious sentiment is one of her earliest attacks on the role of the Church in prescribing religious codes and social mores and that Chopin blames the Church for being indifferent to women’s needs. Although Chopin portrays female characters who feel constrained by the societal definition of their duties and responsibilities, she shows them enjoying various means of satisfaction and fulfillment. In spite of that, however, they experience a decisive transformation in their religious lives and mentality. The protagonists that Chopin depicts share some traits, ideals and visions of the New Woman, but their interests diverge according to their different needs. This study attempts to introduce Chopin’s portrayal of her protagonists as early versions of the New Woman that can promise fuller and a more complex emergence in her later fiction.
first_indexed 2025-11-15T08:55:34Z
format Article
id upm-27980
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-15T08:55:34Z
publishDate 2013
publisher Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling upm-279802015-10-30T04:45:40Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/27980/ Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman Khoshnood, Ali Talif, Rosli Lalbakhsh, Pedram Despite the revival of interest in Kate Chopin’s works during the twentieth century, her early fiction has not yet elicited as much critical appreciation as The Awakening has. The aim of this study is to show that Chopin’s first novel, At Fault, and the tale, “Lilacs”, exhibit the same genius and modern forms and features of her later fiction. Chopin’s authorial voice, strongly but covertly, addresses society’s flaws which are rooted in the illogical demands of the Christian religion and male moral philosophy. This study attempts to demonstrate that Chopin’s hidden anti-religious sentiment is one of her earliest attacks on the role of the Church in prescribing religious codes and social mores and that Chopin blames the Church for being indifferent to women’s needs. Although Chopin portrays female characters who feel constrained by the societal definition of their duties and responsibilities, she shows them enjoying various means of satisfaction and fulfillment. In spite of that, however, they experience a decisive transformation in their religious lives and mentality. The protagonists that Chopin depicts share some traits, ideals and visions of the New Woman, but their interests diverge according to their different needs. This study attempts to introduce Chopin’s portrayal of her protagonists as early versions of the New Woman that can promise fuller and a more complex emergence in her later fiction. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2013 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/27980/1/Kate%20Chopin%E2%80%99s%20Early%20Fiction%20as%20a%20Prologue%20to%20the%20Emergence.pdf Khoshnood, Ali and Talif, Rosli and Lalbakhsh, Pedram (2013) Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 21 (3). pp. 1113-1147. ISSN 0128-7702; ESSN: 2231-8534
spellingShingle Khoshnood, Ali
Talif, Rosli
Lalbakhsh, Pedram
Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman
title Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman
title_full Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman
title_fullStr Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman
title_full_unstemmed Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman
title_short Kate Chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman
title_sort kate chopin`s early fiction as a prologue to the emergence of the new woman
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/27980/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/27980/1/Kate%20Chopin%E2%80%99s%20Early%20Fiction%20as%20a%20Prologue%20to%20the%20Emergence.pdf