story of Edna Pontellier, Southern wife and mother. This book

presents the reader with many tough questions and few answers. It

is not hard to imagine why this book was banished for decades not

long after its initial publication in 1899. At that time in

history, women did just what they were expected to do. 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 didn't fit this mold,

and that eventually leads her husband to send for a doctor. It is

here that Edna Pontellier says words that define The Awakening, "I

don't want anything but my own way. That is wanting a good deal,

of course, when you have to trample upon the lives, the hearts,

the prejudices of others - but no matter_"

As the book begins, Edna is a married woman who seems vaguely

satisfied with her life. However, she cannot f

Robert had left her in an attempt to protect her, himself, or

It is far more than another romance novel with a tragic ending. It

Edna stays married because divorce was unheard of in those days.

themes of independence and women's rights. The Awakening presents

The merits of The Awakening far outweigh its few faults. It tells

Some common words found in the essay are:
Edna Pontellier, Awakening Edna, Alcee Arobin, Pontellier Southern, Chopin's Awakening, tells story, edna pontellier, wife mother, suicide common, chopin's awakening,
Approximate Word count = 674
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)