Kate Chopin

Throughout the 1800s, racial minorities and women across the globe suffered from not having the same rights as their white male counterparts. With the advent of the American Civil War in 1861, Kate Chopin was graduating from Sacred Heart Academy in St. Louis and in the process of writing her first known short story (unpublished). During various civil rights movements, many female authors--including Chopin--were affected personally and wrote about their experiences through their works. For example, in Kate Chopin’s short stories “At the ‘Cadian Ball” and “The Storm,” she incorporated autobiographical elements into characters, settings, and the new phenomenon of a women's literary genre (and the themes within the movement). Ultimately, Kate Chopin's work represents a powerful and triumphant depiction of the everyday intimate passions and frustrations of a southern antebellum woman forced to disguise the expression of her reality in a work of fiction.

In 1879, Kate Chopin moved with her husband Oscar and their children to Cloutierville, Louisiana, where she eventually met her married neighbor and rumored love interest, Albert Sampite (Toth 96). After Oscar Chopin died, “Kate inherited [property] that adjoined Albert Sampite’s” (Toth 96). Because their land was adjoined, it was inevitable for them to meet at some point during the day and discuss their common interests in agricultural, land, politics, and horses (Toth 96). Even though Albert was unhappily married, it has been rumored that the two became infatuated with each other and would coincidentally be at the same place at the same time. In fact, it seems Kate was not the only mistress that Albert had. According to Emily Toth, “Albert Sampite was a restless traveler” (Toth 95). Additionally, Albert Sampite was wealthy, charming, good looking, had a high social status” (Toth 95). Albert Sampite was also known for being a “restless traveler,” going to dances to have a good time, playing cards and drinking...