Two short stories were written by Chopin, A Story of One Hour and The Storm well as her brilliant novel Awakening should be regarded as one of the best examples of the feminist literature of 19-th century. There is no denying the importance of the fact that their impact on the men’s critique domination was extraordinary as they raise the wave of male chauvinism. The heroines of these two short stories Mrs. Mallard and Calixta are revolutionary in that sense that they went against males’ dominance in family, sexual relations, and society.
Mrs. Mallard who wanted liberation from the burden of her daily blank life and Calixta who made adultery represent the revolt of women against the patriarchic order dominant in this period. There is no denying the importance of the fact that Chopin’s own feminist and suffragist political stances were the main reasons for creating such revolutionary and non-conformist heroines. In fact, they are her own literary prototypes and reincarnation.
One of the best examples of feminist trends characteristic of this writer is her novel named Awakening. Its main heroine, Edna escapes her husband and family because she is disappointed by the permanent humiliation and chauvinist oppression she experiences in her daily life. But she is soon found and is forced to come back to her husband.
Being unable to bear insults and permanent humiliation she decided to commit suicide swimming out to a sea at night. All problems that were experienced by women in the late 19-th century are exemplified in this act of despair vividly narrated by Chopin. Hence, it can be claimed that the literal realization of Chopin’s own feminist background and deeply entrenched mindset of women’s liberation found interesting and historically important reflection in her novels and short stories.