Kate Chopin wrote for a reason and with a feeling of passion and desire. She lived as she wanted and wrote what she felt, thought and wanted to say. Kate wrote for many years and her popularity was extreme until the critical disapproval of her novel, The Awakening, a story which described women's desires for independence and control over their own sexuality. Most men condemned the story, while women applauded it. Kate wrote with a sense of realism and naturalism and she created a unique and unparalleled voice. The voice provided insight into the role of women in society and contributed to the start of later feminist movements. In 1915, Fred Lewis Pattee wrote: "Some of Chopin's works are equal to the best that have been produced in France or even in America. She demonstrated what can be described as a native aptitude for storytelling amounting almost to genius” (quoted in Amazon.com “About the Author”). Kate Chopin was a 19th-century American author who cared about women and their rights. She was a bold writer who had a huge impact on how the world should treat women. On February 8, 1851, Katherine O'Flaherty was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Kate was born to parents Thomas O'Flaherty and Eliza Faris. His father was a wealthy Irish immigrant and successful businessman. Sadly, Kate's father died in a railway accident when she was just four years old. Kate's childhood was mainly influenced by her mother and great-grandmother. Kate spent a lot of time with her family's Creole and mulatto slaves, becoming familiar with their dialects. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart where she was a very poor student, but a fervent reader. When she was eleven, Kate's great-grandmother and half-brother died. These two deaths made Kat... middle of paper ...... one of the most important women in 19th century American fiction. Kate grew up in a world where women were considered to have very little importance. She wrote to change that. Kate wrote with passion and a sense of realism. She proved to the world around her that women were just as equal as men. In conclusion, Kate Chopin is known for being the first feminist writer and a woman ahead of her time. Although in her time she was looked down upon for the things she wrote, today she is celebrated and acclaimed by people around the world. Kate's writings provided her with the means to live the way she wanted, both mentally and physically, rather than playing the role society expected of her. Kate Chopin proved to women that they have the right to express themselves however they want. This is why Kate is known today as one of the most important women in 19th-century American fiction..