A Study into Feminist Consciousness of
The Story of an Hour
Abstract：According to interpretation of the social background of the American South at the end of the 19th century and the Kate Chopin’s life experience in the illustration of the text and analyze the historical background of the leading role’s lf consciousness, uncovering American society ignored the value of women and the shackles of a free spirit. With the help of the analysis of the writing technique, we can better understand the theme of freedom and death in the story.
Key words: Women’s consciousness; Kate Chopin; The Story of an Hour
I. Introduction
Kate Chopin is one of American’s most important women writers of the 19th century. His reprentative work “Awakening” is recognized for performance pioneer of feminist thought.
“The Story of an Hour,” published in 1894, is a boutique in Chopin’s short story. In this novel, a young woman learned that her husband died in a railway accident. She wept returned to the room. Slowly, she began to realize their soul changes: “she whispered, ‘free, free, free! ’... she know in spent a long time after the pain, she will complete her own.” Then, without warning, she did not take the train’s husband, open the door came in. When she saw him, her heart stops beating. Around her everyone thinks she was happy will like this. Is she really happy to hear the news that her husband is dead
This article is a feminist novel. Male chauvinist led to xual inequality, feminism advocates also should avoid too extreme tendency (such as novel transcendence of male fantasy). We even western social feminism and the ultimate goal of equality for all (real n of equality). Not any party surpasd and superior.
II. The social background of Feminist Consciousness
Overall, the United States in the 19th century, legal, religious and traditional practices strict restrictions on women, especially Southern women’s rights. They could not vote, ca
nnot make their voices heard in the political sphere; most of the work refud to hire female staff, the majority of women can only perform houhold chores; proportion of educated women is far lower than that of men. Ethical, Southern women are more bound and represd. According to Southern tradition, women are the incarnation of virtue. They are full of compassion, tolerance, patience, loyalty obedience. They are bound in the moral paradigm throne, worshiped by others. For married women, the society has given them more bondage. For example: many states expressly provide that married women have no right to sign contracts, and cannot own property, cannot even dispo of their own income. Whatever the reason, if the couple divorce, the wife cannot get custody of the children. The perfect wife should be submissive, gentle, pious, and therefore not suitable for the complex and volatile醋泡姜 political and business, the best choice is a wife, mother. From the mid-19th century, American society has experienced ethnic conflicts, the Civil War, the abolition of slavery and the highly developed capitalist economy, people’s thinking has also happened unprecedented transformation. The women began questioning traditional practices impod on the role of a woman, issued a challenge to th
e values of the patriarchal society. Northern women first began to fight for equal rights to work, education. They believe that women and men should be equal access to political, economic, religious status, which completely changed the ideological built in the male dominated society. The Civil War and the abolition of slavery greatly changed people’s ideology, the northern 最难忘的一节课growing feminist movement gradually penetrated into the political and economic activities in the South, Southern women also began to demand work and education. They called for social reform, to get rid of the shackles of women’s stereotypes in a patriarchal society, against the rules and prohibitions impod by society. More and more women with high social status are knocking at the door to the career which a man拙政 who once ruled. Women began to move out of the shadow of the man, in all aspects of social life as an independent individual.
Kate Chopin is a writer of this era. Of cour, her feminist ideology is inextricably linked with her family environment. She was born in 1850 in St. Louis, Missouri. His father is Irish descent and his mother was French descent. When she was five years old, his father died in an accident when traveling. Since then, the young Kate, who lived with a wi
dowed mother, a grandmother and her grandmother. Their wisdom, independent and strong, had a tremendous impact for the Kate character and future creation. Kate has been gender equality in education and the impact of feminist ideas in this family. In the process of growing up, she showed a strong rebellion, and out of tune with the social requirements for women. At age 20, Kate married Oscar Chopin who was born in a rich family. Oscar Chopin appreciates Kate’s n of independence and intelligence very much, doubly respected her concept of freedom and equality. Unfortunately, proper middle-aged, Oscar Chopin died of malaria, Kate began his literary creation in the short-term management of her husband's legacy business and was a great success. In her works, Kate continues to explore the idea of women liberation road, challenge the concept of equality and pursuit individual freedom. This freedom is not just physical liberation, and spiritual independence and resistance for the feudal concept带有字的成语 in the male dominated society.
“The Story of an Hour,” while not directly accountable to the reader the social background of the story takes place. But from the context, we can determine Loui is a houwife in
high society, and In real life has always been to suppress her individuality. Before she heard her husband’s death which is misinformation, she did not have the opportunity to express views on their marriage蝙蝠和雷达, just obedience and tolerant. When she heard this rumor which as the opportunity wake her feminist consciousness. Let her know, though she loved their husbands, but most of the time in her marriage is not love. Combined with the social reality of the American South in the 19th century, and the author’s spiritual pursuit, the sudden awakening of her feminist consciousness can be found not only logical, but the novel is full of dramatic change, and therefore more powerful.
III. The Creative Approach of the Performance of Female Consciousness
. U contrast to highlight the significance of Female Consciousness
Chopin successfully u 金龙桥the two ts of sharp contrast, portrayed Loui sudden awakening of feminist consciousness: The t of comparison is the different reactions of Loui and her sister Jophine and her husband's friend Richards when they heard Brently Mallard's death; The other group is the haze of death and the nature of the recove
ry. Loui down uncontrollably, crying in the arms of her sister when she heard the new of her husband’s death. After this, Loui alone back to the bedroom on the cond floor, wearily down on the sofa, choking back tears. Slowly calmed down, she felt their feelings changed, and this change is that she never experienced or even unimaginable, Therefore she fears awaits this slowly came over her 冰心笑indescribable emotions. When Loui realized that this power controls her thoughts, her instinct but it is powerless to resist. Until this power to break through her weak in defen, the issue of “freedom” over and over again crooning. At the moment, Loui’s eyes, although still with fear, but a n of excitement gradually control her, the great joy replaced the grief of the widowed. She is happy to e that: “In the coming years, no one would live for her; she would live only for herlf. Although men and women are blindly convinced that he is entitled to the personal will on others, but not let her succumb. At this point, she thinks whether well-intentioned or malicious act itlf would be a crime. ” Loui heart was filled with the joy of a new life. Jophine and Richards from the beginning of the story for granted that Loui will be distraught learned the bad news, and may even heart attack, so they carefully told her th
e new of her husband’s death. When Loui to shut him in a room, alone taste suddenly sprouted enormous happiness, Jophine is kneeling before the clod bedroom door begging Loui opened the door, the fear of accidents. When Brently Mallard returned, Richards hurried to广告有哪些 stand in front of him, and want to avoid a huge surpri might bring Loui damage. Everyone’s expectations and the actual situation of Loui formed a strong contrast, strongly criticized the traditional concept of bondage and oppression for women.
