Delivering Feminism through Realism (lecture from March 27th, 2018)
"Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one's life." (Kate Chopin 1850-1904)As both a lover of literature, and a woman, this lecture is incredibly important to me. Given the society we live in today, even with its flaws, it is hard to imagine the hardships that women faced just about a hundred to a hundred and fifty years ago. In this lesson we covered female short story authors, and the events in their lives that lead up to their pieces.
Let's talk about time period, baby!!
- 19th century America, during the realism period (Civil War and Post-War).
- Brings forth a type of literature that is real and true, as opposed to mixed ideals.
- In a sense, literature in the 1800's depicted the reality of human life and behavior.
Who is Kate Chopin?
Chopin is an incredibly vital female author, in that when she began to write, she kicked off the first wave of the women's rights movement. Her short story "The Storm" was written in 1898, but was considered so controversial that it was published for the first time long after her death, in 1969, a full 71 years later. She also wrote The Awakening, and "The Story of an Hour", "Desiree's Baby", and many others.
Who is Charlotte Perkins-Gilman? (1860-1935)
Perkins-Gilman wrote "The Yellow Wallpaper" in 1892, a short story that reflected upon her time of depression after giving birth, and how her "treatment" was to be locked alone in a room at all times, driving her insane. This piece is so vivid in its imagery and desperation, that it honestly hurt me to read. She was also a feminist, lecturer, and social reformer.
By studying the lives and literature of these two women, it can give a huge amount of insight into the misery that was being a woman during this time period. It is important to keep having future generations learn of these hardships, as it brings awareness to how far we have come.
Chopin is an incredibly vital female author, in that when she began to write, she kicked off the first wave of the women's rights movement. Her short story "The Storm" was written in 1898, but was considered so controversial that it was published for the first time long after her death, in 1969, a full 71 years later. She also wrote The Awakening, and "The Story of an Hour", "Desiree's Baby", and many others.
Who is Charlotte Perkins-Gilman? (1860-1935)
Perkins-Gilman wrote "The Yellow Wallpaper" in 1892, a short story that reflected upon her time of depression after giving birth, and how her "treatment" was to be locked alone in a room at all times, driving her insane. This piece is so vivid in its imagery and desperation, that it honestly hurt me to read. She was also a feminist, lecturer, and social reformer.
By studying the lives and literature of these two women, it can give a huge amount of insight into the misery that was being a woman during this time period. It is important to keep having future generations learn of these hardships, as it brings awareness to how far we have come.
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