Strong Female Characters In The Storm By Kate Chopin

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The period of history that we have been studying has afforded us a closer look at women authors and their views on the world. Kate Chopin, Sarah Orne Jewett, and Mary Wilkins Freeman all wrote stories about strong female characters. The stories were about very diverse topics but the one thing that each one had in common was that the main female character was true to herself. In “The Storm” Chopin’s character Calixta, chooses to have an affair with her old lover Alec Laballiere. This choice is not one that is made for the good of her family or for her long term happiness but rather to please herself. Chopin shows a female character that isn’t afraid to choose her happiness over honor. That said the affair does not cause Calixta to forget her duty to her husband and son. The affair is a one-time event that does not stop Calixta from continuing her duties, in fact it is hinted that she is better at her wifely duties after the affair. It seems that Chopin is pointing out that a women who sacrifices all the time is not always the type of …show more content…

The character of Louisa Ellis in “A New England Nun” is the ultimate example of a classy and strong woman character. Louisa has survived for fourteen years without a man in her life. Most of that time she was completely alone. She has built a very happy and simple existence for herself. Her little cottage is orderly and tidy just like Louisa herself. The idea of marrying Joe Dagget is not one that feels her with joy. It is more of a duty that she feels obligated to fulfill. When Louisa overhears Joe and his paramour it give Louisa the strength to standup for what she wants. This is accomplished in a very diplomatic and sincere way allowing both Joe and Louisa to part ways with neither losing anything. Her ability to fly in the face of convention and choose her happiness over what is socially expected shows just how she is a strong

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