Feminism

The canon of Kate Chopin's work consists of stories addressing gender hierarchy, gender relations, and sexuality. Two of Chopin's short stories that particularly exemplify a feminist critique of existing social structures include "The Story of an Hour" and "The Storm." Chopin uses her medium to express political views on the changing roles of women in domestic partnerships; the changing nature of those partnerships; and the impact of gender on personal identity. This paper will outline the two short stories in detail, discussing the core issue of gender hierarchy. Moreover, the paper will explore Kate Chopin's implicit and explicit strategies for social change as they appear in the two short stories. In both "Story of an Hour," and "The Storm," Kate Chopin promotes an ideal of independence and self-empowerment without completely eschewing heterosexual love.

In "The Story of an Hour," Louise Mallard learns the news of her husband's death. The...
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