Suicide in The Awakening

A detailed Summary of Suicide in The Awakening

What is suicide? "(Suicide is) the act of self-destruction by a person sound in mind and capable of

measuring his (or her) moral responsibility" (Webster 1705). "No one really knows why human beings

commit suicide. Indeed, the very person who takes his (or her) own life may be least aware at the moment of

decision of the essence of his (or her) reasons and emotions for doing so. At the outset, it can be said that a

dozen individuals can kill themselves and "do" (or commit) 12 psychologically different deeds"

(Encyclopaedia Britannica, 385). Suicide is written about in a variety of novels, short stories, and movies.

Suicide moves like an undercurrent in the sea of themes of The Awakening. The possibility of suicide and

even the idea of death darkens the story, making Edna's emotional ups and downs dangerous - her occasional

misery leads her to subconsciously think of suicide. She holds the hopelessness at bay by moving out and

getting her own apartment, while trying to find a man who will accept her, but in the end she succumbs.

Edna's closest physical brush with death occurs one night at the beach, when the summer residents

decide to take a midnight swim. Despite having had a hard time learning

forces her to break free. This time, she escapes and begins life on her own, to succeed at first. Then she meets

wanting her to be a mother and a housewife, when she knows she is not like that. Her husband's oppression

Chopin, Kate. "The Awakening." Literature: Thinking, Reading, & Writing Critically. 2nd ed. Ed.

and of the children." (Chopin, 698); they sought to drag her into the soul's slavery for the rest of her days.

"Suicide." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Vol. 21. 1973 ed.

Approximate Word count = 818
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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