Art is an unnatural act: Mademoiselle Reisz in 'The Awakening.': An article from: The Mississippi Quarterly

This digital document is an article from The Mississippi Quarterly, published by Mississippi State University on March 22, 1993. The length of the article is 6742 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: The character of Mademoiselle Reisz in Kate Chopin's 'The Awakening' is used to present lesbianism as a reality to be embraced, not condemned. Chopin embodies Reisz with many of the stereotypical traits associated with female artists in the late nineteenth century, including lesbianism. Placed in the larger context of Edna's awakening to various forms of sexuality and intimacy, her relationship with Reisz works to contrast more stereotypical, and accepted love plots in the novel. It is as real as the others, and therefore as valid in its sincerity. Chopin presents the lesbian artist in a stereotypical fashion so her readers will recognize her, then affirms her, giving lesbianism a place alongside other types of love.

Citation Details
Title: Art is an unnatural act: Mademoiselle Reisz in 'The Awakening.'
Author: Kathryn Lee Seidel
Publication:The Mississippi Quarterly (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1993
Publisher: Mississippi State University
Volume: v46 Issue: n2 Page: p199(16)

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