During the 1890's, New Orleans was an interesting place to be. Characterized by strict social codes, both spoken and unspoken, a prosperous lifestyle was the reward for following these strict laws of the society. This conformity made for a strenuous situation for Edna Pontellier, the protagonist of Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening. It is of utmost necessity that Chopin places Edna in this unique setting, both because of the characters who inhabit it and the situations that are created and advanced in this late 1800's society. It is the essence of the society and culture that dominates the novel and fuels the conflicts that are the body of the story. The singlemost important aspect of Kate Chopin's, The Awakening is the placement of the setting in New Orleans society during the 1890's; for it was the major justification and reasoning for Edna's rebellion from restrictiveness, Leonce's adherence to tradition, as well as the overall progression of the novel.

During this time period, women were supposed to take care of their children and obey their husbands at all costs. The society was made up of women, "who idolized their children, worshipp

Women in the 1890's were to follow certain codes and fit into prescribed roles. These were usually very strict and, "In Creole eyes, women who flout the codes governing female behavior are dangerous or mad" (Taylor 305). As well as the codes that the women were to live by, they were also characterized into gender roles. These roles consist of, "societies views or expectations of women; daughter, wife, mother, nurturer, or lady" (Fox-Genovese 37).

Sexuality was another aspect that made Edna an outcast in this society. Any kind of outward sexuality during this time period was strictly against social codes and values and was thought of as immoral. "Their very moral nature did not allow any doubt that sex was to be kept to themselves and not outwardly expressed" (Kniffen 46). In fact, "the women associated sex more with children than pleasure, for fear that it was unholy and against puritan views" (Finiels 18). This further portrays how oppressed women really were during this time period. They were basically not supposed to enjoy anything, only work hard and please others. A life somewhat centered on everyone but themselves.

Edna did not by any means fit into the Creole society of which she lived. "Mrs. Pontellier, though she had married a Creole, was not thoroughly at home in the society of Creoles; never before had she been thrown so intimately among them" (Chopin 18). Edna was intrigued by the Creoles but did not fully understand their ways or reasons. "A characteristic which impressed Mrs. Pontellier most forcibly was their entire absence of prudery" (Chopin 19). "She was not accustomed to an outward and spoken expression of affection, either in herself or in others" (Chopin31). Edna continues to be shunned from the apparent Creole clique when Madame Ratignolle says, "she is not one of us; she is not like us" (Chopin 35). Along with Edna's feelings of separation and solitude, she felt trapped by her family, especially her children. "In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman" (Chopin 16). When her kids spent part of the summer with grandma Pontellier, Edna didn't even miss them. In fact, "t

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Approximate Word count = 1440
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)