Realism Project: Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin is considered an author of the realism literary period, and more specifically part of the naturalism sub category of realism. Naturalism is a sub category of realism that deals with nature and the idea of Darwinism. "In particular, naturalism believes that the powerful dominate the weak, 'few can overcome the handicaps imposed upon them by inadequacies of body and mind, and that many men have instinctive needs that are not amenable to moral suasion or rational argument' (20)" (Werlock). Basically, naturalism believes that the fittest will be the survivors and successors of life. However, it is not always by their own will as it is with realism. "As humans are governed by the same laws as all of nature, literary naturalism suggests that those who attempt to question, combat, or suppress nature will find only failure" (Werlock). Two of Kate Chopin's novels display realism; however, of the two, "The Awakening" and "The Story of the Hour," only one of those displays actual naturalism. "The Story of the Hour" shows naturalism, while "The Awakening" displays realism.

"The Story of the Hour" is about a woman who has heart problems and is told that her husband died in a terrible train accident (Chopin, 554). When she is told of this, she immediately breaks down sobbing for the loss of her husband. She goes into her room tobe in private, and when she does, she opens a window. This window gives her fresh air and a sense of freedom, which helps her with her grief. However, she fights it and eventually walks away from the window to be escorted down stairs. There she sees her husband, completely alive and well, and at the sight of him, she dies abruptly. (Chopin, 555)

But how does this deal with naturalism? Simple. When Mrs. Mallard, the young suppossed widow, opens the window, she is open to nature and the goodness of that nature. "There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air...When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: 'free, free, free!'"(Chopin, 554) In this passage, Mrs. Mallard feels a sense of freedom and joy. A sensation has come over her, from her encounter with nature. However it does not last. Her sister comes to aid her. "'Go away. I am not making myself ill.' No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window" (Chopin, 555). As she walks away and sees her husband, fully alive and well, suddenly, Mrs. Mallard dies, because she has been taken away from that nature, that elixir, and this is what puts this in the naturalism sub category.

Also, Mrs. Mallard was weak to begin with, with heart problems. "Knwoing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble..." (Chopin, 554). When she died, it was a sign that she could not handle the situation at the present, a sign of weakness. Naturalists believe that the strong will prevail, and the weak will not. Likewise, Mrs. Mallard did not prevail. This is why this is a literature work of naturalism.

Works Cited

Chopin, Kate. "The Story of the Hour." Glencoe American Literature. comp. Wilhelm, Jeffery. McGraw Hill. Columbus, OH. 2009. pg. 554-555.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "naturalism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0501&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 16, 2011).