What themes does Chopin address that relate to societal changes in the late 19th century?

Chopin was a realist, part of a literary movement in the 19th century that was dedicated to reporting the lives of common people.The attributes of realism as a literary style are debated; however all critics agree that it is the author's dedication to verisimilitude as the basic precept. Regionalist writing focuses on segment of society, copying their manner and speech patterns, their class system, and other social rules particular to the region.

The themes she addresses are industrialism and child labor and the women's changing roles in society.

In The Awakening, Chopin focused on the Creole culture of Louisiana. Their common heritage came from the French and Spanish ancestry, a complex cast system, and the setting of urban New Orleans.

For example when she portrayed Edna, as a protestant from Kentucky, rather than like the local, French-speaking Catholic Creoles. Edna married a local Creole man, so she was an outsider marrying into the local culture. Chopin highlighted the cultural differences by comparing an outsider entering the local culture. Especially she chose to highlight their social relationships as wives and capitalists.