Virtue and Self-assertion in Kate Chopin's At Fault (1890)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to define the concepts of virtue and self-assertion and debate them in Kate Chopin’s At Fault. Chopin makes a reconciliation between the two concepts that socially challenged one another at the turn of the nineteenth century. The paper proves how a Victorian woman can be both self-asserted and virtuous. The paper highlights the struggle between love and traditional ethics. It presents At Fault as a story of possibilities of woman’s freedom, self-assertion, and equality. The heroin is a self-asserted woman who overcontrols everyone around her. The novel spotlights how Chopin perceives virtue and self-assertion, and how she considers the code of righteousness. It finally illustrates how Chopin criticizes religious misconceptions, society, and the moral reformers who decide for a person. The paper discusses moral and ethical issues in the Victorian era. It also asserts the importance of love in a new-woman’s life. It does not only discuss the issues of marriage and divorce, but it also focuses on the cultural experiences of the incompatible marriages and their destructive consequences for women. Chopin through At Fault asserts the importance of work for women and how it helps them discover their abilities and attain their financial independence that will eventually lead to a fulfilled self. The study achieves its purpose through using a historical, a feminist, and a psychological approach.