The Awakening Lesson Plan

Kate Chopin grew up in a wealthy and influential St. Louis family, and she achieved virtually every milestone expected of women of her class during that era. She got married to a wealthy Creole businessman, Oscar Chopin, and moved with him to New Orleans to become a dutiful and doting wife. During her time there, Kate was part of New Orleans's postbellum Southern aristocracy; until they moved out to a bayou so that Oscar could more closely manage his family's plantations. Kate also became a mother six times over, fulfilling another expectation of women during her time. Sadly, Kate's seemingly happy domestic life did not last long, as Oscar died of swamp fever in 1883, leaving Kate a...