Kate Chopin, The Awakening

A detailed Summary of 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

appiness. The only point that she makes clear in that statement is that she would give her life for her children, showing that she loves them but cannot define herself based on creating their happiness. Her actions resemble those of a child. Her awakening evolves into a selfish agenda, concerned only with her own happiness and disregarding all others.

One of the main acts of social defiance during Edna's awakening came from her relationships with various men. Her most scandalous relationship took place with Alcee Arobin, a well known playa' in society. She uses him as a form of rebellion against her social restrictions that held her back in the past. This affair demonstrates she no longer cares for her husband, she seems to carry no concern for the feelings of those around her, including her husband. Ironically when she pondered the act with some regret, "What would he think?" She did not mean her husband; she meant Robert Lebrun. Her husband seemed to her now like a person she married without love as an excuse." (pg.77) Edna makes her greatest transitions when she falls in love with Robert. She transforms from a woman in a relationship of comfort to one attempting t

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)

Category: English

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Kate Chopin, The Awakening

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