The Way To A Sane Society

Kate Chopin, one of the most controversial writers in American literature, was regarded as a feminist writer because of her masterpiece The Awakening (1899) and her novel At Fault (1890). Her short stories also made her become an important writer of local color fiction and most of her short stories were collected n Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1897). Setting in the Natchitoches parish of Louisiana, Chopin reproduces the lifestyles of Cajuns and Creoles. There are many wonderful stories in her collections, which depict the American society in the nineteenth century from many aspects.From the feminist perspective, the thesis analyzes Chopin’s subversion to the traditional society and ler concern for women’s living conditions. Fromm’s theory provides the basic standpoint for the exploration of Chopin’s constructive expectations to a harmonious society. In her works, Chopin believes that there are many problems in the society, such as gender bias, racial discrimination, children-rearing and the pension issue, which cause people’s alienation. Chopin thinks that the alienation between people is caused by the development of economics, the influence of traditional culture and the absence of love. Therefore, Chopin advocates to eliminate alienation through love and to create a harmonious relationship through productive orientation. Under the guidance of feminism and Fromm’s thoughts in The Sane Society, this paper analyzes Chopin’s works from the aspects mentioned above and gives the readers a new perspective to understand them.Chopin cares much about the women’s condition in the 19 century. The thesis analyzes the characters of Edna and Adele in her novel The Awakening to show woman’s alienation in her times. In "Desiree’s Baby" Chopin illustrates that both of the black and the white are alienated and they are the victims of racial discrimination. Chopin also expresses the alienation among different religious believers in At Fault and her short stories "In Sabine". In Chopin’s opinion, the reasons why people are alienated are the influence of economic development, conventional culture and the absence of love.Chopin’s works also illustrate her desire for a harmonious society. In The Awakening, "Beyond the Bayou" and "The Return of Alcibiade", she hopes to eliminate alienation through love. Besides, through creating a new relationship between husband and wife in "Athenaise", getting a harmonious relationship in ’A Rude Awakening" and "Dead Men’s Shoes" and creating a harmonious relationship between different religious believers in "Love on the Bon-Dieu", Chopin advocates to eliminate alienation through productive orientation. This paper concludes that Chopin’s works not only show her comprehensively thought to the alienation but also express her exploration to construct a harmonious society.