at social institutions such as marriage, often were at cross purposes with natural impulses including sexual passion"(Petry 2) All of these elements are prominent in her writings. Chopin grew up knowing that women could be strong and intelligent and that they did not have to be "submissive creatures" (Petry 131). In the nineteenth century it was almost un heard of for wife to outlive her husband many women died during childbirth, Chopin's mother and great grandmother both outlived their husbands (Toth 11). Chopin returned to school at the Sacred Heart Academy when she was seven years old, two years after her father's death. The Sacred Heart was taught by nuns who educated their student's "to be knowledgeable, clear, and independent thinkers" (Toth 15). Her writings of independence and female self-assertion were shaped by her unusual upbringing during the nineteenth century.
             Having grown up around independent women, Chopin soon became very independent herself, although this did not stop her from marriage. She married Oscar Chopin in 1870 when she was 20 years old. She moved to New Orleans, where Oscar was originally from to set up their home, they did not move into his house but they bought a house of their own. Moving away from what she called home for 20 years would be a big step for Chopin, she now has to make her own decisions and learn of a whole new world miles away from what she calls home. Moving to Louisiana had caused Chopin to grow up fast resulting in her great independence. Oscar's family viewed her independence with suspicion, Chopin being as independent as she was would take walks around the block by herself, this to them was very strange and enough to cause suspicion by her new in-laws. (Toth 67) Her marriage to Oscar was a happy one: "Kate was devoted to Oscar and thought him perfect" (Toth 54) Her love for independence had once again resulted in others...