Katie Chopin stories are ones about women and the issues they face. The emancipation of a woman is a theme that is shared in different fashions in different works of Chopin. However, Chopin never came out to openly voice her opinion of women issues (Seyersted, 1). Her stories give a glimpse of the personal internal battles woman face.
In the first three stories of her career, Chopin presented three different women. “Euphrasie” focuses on a woman who just accepts her role in society. A society where men rule and woman are seen as a servant of her man in many ways. Bible phrases are used in the story to remind us of this. During a marriage ceremony, Father Beaulieu of Cloutierville says :”Madame, be submissive to your husband… You no longer belong to yourself.” Being submissive in ways that is only pleasing to the man himself; regardless of how it makes the woman feel as a person. Letting her husband decide her destiny of life and making her feel as if she must devote herself to him and their children. The “Wiser Than God” shows a woman who seeks her own emancipation of following her dreams versus the life as a married woman. This upsets the rich George Brianard that she is in love with. Paula, the woman, is an active lady who takes charge of her life and follows her own dream of being a concert pianist. She refuses to be a lady that follows the direction of any man. George is really set in his ways. He even thinks if he was to marry a nun, the nun would owe herself to him. Chopin’s next story “A Point at Issue” reflects more about the modern woman. A woman who sees here self more as an equal to the man, not one that see him as something greater than her.