The Awakening
In her novel The Awakening, Kate Chopin shows how the character Edna Pontellier has to deal with a life of hard choices. The novel is about a woman who marries into the creole way of life. Edna has everything a woman could want, but she is not happy. Edna feels like a possession of her husband, of her children, and of her society. The story deals with the struggles she goes through in order to find herself. Edna realizes that as a wife and mother, she has not been living for herself, throughout the entire novel, Edna searches for herself. Edna begins to realize that her role in society is that of a person, not someone's property, she remains "stuck" in a world of marital commitment. Edna realizes that as a wife and mother she has lost all her freedom. Her freedom has been taken away by her husband and children. At the time this novel was published, women did as they were expected to by society. They were expected to be good daughters, good wives, and good mothers. A woman was expected to move from the protection of her father's roof to the protection of her husband. Edna does not fit into this mold. She says, "I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn'
The Awakening tells a story from the perspective of the oppressed about independence, freedom, and will power unheard of during the times of its publication. It is a stirring book that forces the reader to confront tough issues. It paints a picture of what goes through the mind of a person who loses hope. It is far more than another romance novel with a tragic ending. It is a book about the choices one will make to protect one's freedom. Throughout the entire novel Edna searches for an identity which she can call her own. At first, Edna is married and seems satisfied with her life. However, she does not find the true happiness she is looking for. Her "awakening" begins when a young man named Robert enters her life. Edna begins to respond to him with a passion she has never felt before. She begins to realize that she can play roles other than wife and mother. Throughout the book, Edna takes many steps to increase her independence. She sends her children away, she attends races and parties, and she moves into a single person house. These events play a major role in Edna finding her true identity. By the end of The Awakening, Edna still feels like a possession of her husband, of her children, and of her society. The only solution she sees is to end her life, which she does by swimming out into the sea until her strength gives out. The theme of The Awa
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Approximate Word count = 931
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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