The Awakening
In the book The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, time and place play a major role in Edna's "awakening." Edna, the protagonist, attempts to defy male domination in her life, and through this defiance she "awakens," and becomes her own person. She explores the natural world, which she had previously not known in her repressed role as a Creole matron. This could not have been possible for Edna had she not spent time on the Grand Isle summer resort island, getting to be one with nature, and exploring her interests such as drawing and playing music. Grand Isle, an island off the coast of Louisiana, is a summer resort for wealthy Creole families. It is surrounded by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, has a gentle breeze blowing across it, and has luscious vegetation. It can be considered an Eden-like island. On this island, Edna symbolically eats from the fruits of the tree of knowledge, as Adam and Eve did. Edna, who is a repressed, dissatisfied society matron, is unfulfilled in her marriage and her motherhood. Edna is seduced
by the sounds, smells, and primitive quality of Grand Isle, and begins to flirt excessively with Robert, the resort owner's son. Robert is the catalyst in stirring Edna's emotions, even though he is quite an immature and ordinary young man. It is from this experience with him that Edna learns that she is in fact a sexual being. She is deeply impressed by the music of Mademoiselle Reisz, a talented musician, and realizes how much she can truly appreciate music. Edna discovers her talent in painting and tries to pursue it further. She learns how to swim in the waters of the Gulf, and it is under this island setting the she begins to do away with her inhibitions. When Edna first consciously chooses to rebel, she does so at night, after Leonce comes back to Grand Isle late one night and finds her sitting outside. He orders her indoors, but she refuses. They both sit outside for a while until Edna finally gives in and goes inside to sleep. When Edna rebels, and refuses to entertain guests on her set day, Leonce is shocked and suspects that Edna is mentally ill
Some common words found in the essay are:
Grand Isle, Madame Antoine's, Kate Chopin, Mademoiselle Reisz, Robert Alcee, Gulf Mexico, Eve Edna, Leonce Edna's, Edna Church, grand isle, , edna discovers, wealthy creole, edna's awakening, set day, waters gulf, summer resort, awakening edna, role edna's, role edna's awakening,
Approximate Word count = 721
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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