Kate Chopin Essays (1909 words) - Frdric Chopin, The Awakening, Edna

Kate Chopin Kate Chopin Kate Chopin is one of the first female writers to address female issues, primarily sexuality. Chopin declares that women are capable of overt sexuality in which they explore and enjoy their sexuality. Chopin shows that her women are capable of loving more than one man at a time. They are not only attractive but sexually attracted (Ziff 148). Two of Chopin's stories that reflect this attitude of sexuality are The Awakening and one of her short stories ?The Storm?. Although critics now acclaim these two stories as great accomplishments, Chopin has been condemned during her life for writing such vulgar and risqu? pieces. In 1899 Chopin publishes The Awakening. She is censured for its ?positively unseemly? theme (Kimbel 91). Due to the negative reception of The Awakening Chopin never tries to publish ?The Storm?. She feels that the literary establishment can not accept her bold view of human sexuality (Kimbel 108). Chopin definitely proves to be an author way ahead of her time. The Awakening is considered to be Chopin's best work as well as a unlikely novel to be written during the 1890s in America. The Awakening is a story about a woman, Edna Pontelier, who is a conventional wife and mother. Edna experiences a spiritual awakening in the sense of independence that changes her life. Edna Pontellier begins her awakening at the Grand Isle when Harmon 2 she is 28 years old. She has been married for ten years, and she has two children. This situation proves to be different from the male characters of most other novels because they almost always do not have to face the complications of marriage and parenthood to reach self-determination (Bogarad 159). Chopin is able to portray this awakening through Edna's relationships with her husband, children, Alcee, and Robert. Kate Chopin always writes about marital instability in her fiction (Wilson 148). The first way in which Chopin is able to portray an awakening by Edna is through her relationship with her husband, Leonce. Chopin describes Leonce as a likable guy. He is a successful businessman, popular with his friends, and devotes himself to Edna and the children (Spangler 154). Although Edna's marriage to Leonce is ?purely and accident?, he ?pleases her? and his ?absolute devotion flattered her? (Chopin 506). However, it is clearly obvious to the reader the Leonce acts as the oppressor of Edna (Allen 72). When the reader first sees them together, Leonce is looking at his wife as ?a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage? (Chopin 494). The most important aspect to Leonce is making money and showing off his wealth. He believes his wife's role to be caring for him and his children. Therefore, the first step toward her freedom is to be free of his rule. Edna is able to accomplish this first by denying Leonce the submissiveness which he is accustomed to. She does this by abandoning her Tuesday visitors, she makes no attempt to keep an organized household, and she comes and goes as she pleases (Chopin 536). The next big step in gaining her freedom from her husband is when she moves into a house of her own while Leonce is away taking of business. She does not even wait to see what his opinion of the Harmon 3 matter is (Chopin 558). It is quite evident the only thing Leonce worries about is what people are going to say. Therefore, he begins to remodel the house so it does not appear that Edna has left him. ?Mr. Pontellier had saved appearances!? (Chopin 565). Leonce never really understands what happens to his marriage with Edna. Instead he has to face the fact that he as well as the children are of no consequence to his wife (Spangler 154). There is also the fact that divorce is not a consideration because in the 1890s this right has not been generally recognized. The reader must understand that as a matter of historical fact her options are different from modern ones (Allen 72). Secondly, Edna must become free from her children. For many years Edna has been a good mother, but now she sees her boys as an opposition. Therefore, she refuses to live for them, but rather for herself (Seyersted 151). While at the Grand Isle Edna tells one of her good friends, Madame Ratignolle, that she ?would give my life for my children; but I would not give myself? (Chopin 529). Edna believes that she can direct her own life, but

Andrew Jackson Essays (1182 words) - Andrew Jackson, Free Essays

Andrew Jackson Essays (1182 words) - Andrew Jackson, Free Essays Andrew Jackson Born to Irish immigrants on March 15, 1767, Andrew Jackson was to become the first "rags to riches" President the country had ever seen. He grew up in South Carolina and fought in the Revolutionary War at only thirteen. His entire immediate family, parents and siblings, died as a cause of the war, whether it was being killed in battle or death from disease. He went on to serve two terms as the seventh President of the U.S., leaving behind a legacy of administrative policy and even his own democratic philosophy. The Second Bank of the United States was founded in Philadelphia in 1816. It was mainly a Republican project and a response to the expiration of the First U.S. Bank's charter. It was created as a safe place for federal funds, and because state banks were seen as insufficient for handling financial needs. Currency differed by state, counterfeit money was everywhere, and state banks often issued notes without any gold or silver, the only trusted currency, to back them up. The bank was not met everywhere on friendly terms.. Maryland, in an effort to destroy the Baltimore branch, passed laws to heavily tax it, but the Supreme Court removed those laws, strengthening the central federal power. The Second Bank's charter expired during Jackson's administration in 1836. Most people were distrustful of the bank, as it had enormous power to ruin state banks and was basically unresponsive to the people's needs. It had powerful political influence also, and was completely controlled by one man, the President Nicholas Biddle. The rechartering was scheduled by the bank-influenced Congress to coincide with the 1832 Presidential campaign and election, in which Jackson would be running for a second term. The purpose was to gather up public pressure to have him pass the charter in order to gain reelection. However, Jackson was a bit more principled than that, and vetoed the bill. Congress was unable to override his veto. The rechartering then became Jackson's most important issue in running for President. He said it went further than just allowing a bank - it symbolized special privileges and economic power. The plan to give the bank influence over the entire country's government completely backfired as Jackson was reelected. He took proper steps to make sure the bank would never have the same powers or influence again. He took federal money out of the bank to distribute it in trustworthy state chartered banks. With no money to hold it up, the Second U.S. Bank collapsed and disappeared. With Jackson shutting down the bank, he showed his tolerance for the supreme power of the constitution and financially restricted government. One could go so far as to say that human rights were involved because Biddle gave the common people a hard time about loans and interest rates. Jackson was pushing for the people of this country! Indian Removal was Jackson's policy for making room for white settlers between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. The Indian culture was told to either assimilate or move west. Any formalized rituals became illegal, as did tribal councils or any Indian attempt to set laws for themselves, as they had in the past. They were now forced to abide by white laws and culture. Jackson was looking to expand commerce, population, and agriculture. He saw it in the west, a vast supply of land and economic improvement. His attitude towards the Indians can consistently enough be seen back in the War of 1812, as not only did he slaughter them in battle but stole the land of those who had fought with him. But he could tolerate the Indians, if they were civilized enough, so by giving the Indians individual rights to property he also gave them the basis for Western capitalism. His ideas on Indian Removal did become a legacy of administrative policy, at least for some time, after he left office. His successor, President Martin van Buren, removed thousands of Indians and pushed them westward. Those allowed to stay in their original homes were small, select groups such as the Iroquois Confederation in New York or those who agreed to abide by white law. Any of those who willfully went out west were promised land and financial