Kate Chopin, The Awakening
In Kate Chopin's The Awakening Edna Pontellier "awakens" to the realization that she is a person and not the possession of her husband. When she awakens she realizes she is in an oppressive society and that she is no longer one of the mindless member of the majority but an individual who's passion conflicts the responsibility that society feels she should be dedicated to. She finds true love but realizes that to follow it would mean defying the majority and losing her family and everything she had. In the end their conflicting ideas and her unwillingness, or selfishness depending on your view, to give up to society lead to her suicide. After her first liberation in the water, she begins to distance herself from both her husband and children. "I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself." (pg.47) Her unwillingness to sacrifice herself for her children and her husband demonstrates that she does not want to give herself away in order to make others happy. Edna can give her children superficial items, yet because of her new found "awakening" she can no longer truly serve to provide for their h
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Edna Pontellier, Robert Lebrun, Alcee Arobin, love robert, husband children, life children,
Approximate Word count = 792
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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