Kate Chopin was an American author of short stories and novels based in Louisiana. Her work was considered controversial at the time for its frankness about sexuality and its exploration of female desire and independence. She is considered a forerunner of 20th-century feminist authors.
Chopin was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1850. She was of French descent and grew up speaking French as her first language. She married Oscar Chopin, a cotton planter from New Orleans, and had six children.
Jump to:
After her husband's death in 1879, she moved back to St. Louis and began writing short stories. Her first story, "Athenais," was published in 1890.
Chopin's stories were often about the lives of women in the American South. She wrote about their struggles with poverty, loneliness, and unfulfilled dreams. Her stories were also known for their frankness about sexuality.
Chopin's most famous story is "The Story of an Hour" (1894). The story tells the tale of a woman who is overjoyed to learn of her husband's death, only to die of a heart attack shortly after. The story was considered controversial at the time for its exploration of female desire and independence.
Chopin published two novels, The Awakening (1899) and The Storm (1900). The Awakening is considered her masterpiece. The novel tells the story of a woman who rebels against the conventions of her time and pursues her own happiness.
Family Overview
Kate Chopin was born to an Irish family with the surname O'Flaherty. She was the only child of the marriage between her parents.
She met and married her husband, who owned a plantation. The couple had six children, but his sudden death forced her to move back to St. Louis.
Her six children all lived to a decent age, with the exception of her firstborn son.
They had several children, which gave her many grandchildren.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Thomas O'Flaherty (1805 - 1855) - He was born in Ireland; O'Flaherty arrived in St. Louis in 1825, where he started a boat store, a wholesale grocery, and a commission house. He and his wife had one child.
Elisa Faris (1828 - 1885) - She was over twenty years younger than her husband, and the two had one child. She lived through the Civil War as a widow.
Spouse:
Oscar Chopin (1844 - 1882) - He was the husband of Kate, and the two had six children together. He died suddenly, and Kate never remarried.
Children:
Jean Baptiste Chopin (1871 - 1911) - He died at a young age. He was married but had no children.
Oscar Charles Chopin (1873 - 1932) - He was born in St. Louis; his mother, Kate Chopin, was a writer of Creole stories. Oscar was a stage actor in Alabama and Los Angeles. He died from heart disease at his home in Los Angeles, California.
George Francis Chopin (1874 - 1952) - He lived until almost 80 years old and became a doctor. He and his wife had three children together.
Fred Chopin (1876 - 1953) - He served as a private during the Spanish-American War and lived until 77 years of age, similar to his older brother. He never married.
Felix Andre Chopin (1878 - 1955) - He was the youngest brother and married but had no children. Ironically, he lived to the age of 77, as did two of his younger brothers.
Lelia Chopin (1880 - 1963) - She married and possibly had children. She was the last of her siblings to pass away.
Siblings: None