Chopin Essays

The novel The Awakening is an empowering masterpiece that shows a woman stepping out of the social norm to find her bliss. Edna Pontellier is expected to be the perfect wife and perfect mother. The needs of her husband and children are supposed to triumph over her own. She is well ahead of her time because she wants independence and to live her life to the fullest. In Chopin’s story, not only is there a daring young woman who is on the hunt to find her independence, but there is also a housewife, whose life belongs to her family.

Kate Chopin’s controversial novel, The Awakening, comprehends the frustrations and the triumphs in a woman’s life as she attempts to cope with the strict cultural demands. The protagonist Edna Pontellier challenges the norms of society as she abandons the stereotype of a “mother-woman”. The novel accounts Edna Pontellier’s journey toward a new vision of female and constantly examines and challenges the boundaries of a “mother-woman”. The continuous characterization of Edna throughout the book presents the idea that individuality and freedom of women could not be earned in the inhibiting society that she was trapped in.

In Kate Chopin’s novel, “The Awakening”, she introduces the reader to the life of Edna Pontellier, a woman with an independent nature, searching for her true identity in a society that expects women to be nothing more than just devoted housewives and nurturing mothers. In Edna’s journey of self-discovery, one must recognize the impact that other characters have had on her as well. Two characters that have had the biggest impact on Edna were Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz. Even though these two women are very different, both of them greatly influence Edna’s decisions about her life. The ideas that both women presented to Edna

however, defied from the responsibilities women have. A woman who is devoted to her family would: “idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels (Chopin 51).” At this time the norm of an upper class women was someone who took care of the kids, devoted to their husband, and made sure that everything was running smoothly with the staff and servants. However, Edna was different since she really does not like the responsibilities women have. Edna was simply not a motherly woman since she confesses: “ There absence was a sort of relief, though she did not admit this, even to herself. It seemed to free her of a responsibility which she had blindly assumed and for which Fate had not

As a result, the sea provides an escape for all of Edna’s problems that she could never face on her own because of the standards of society that she went against, and the consequences that would be involved if

In Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening, Edna Pontellier and Adele Ratignolle have opposing viewpoints and personalities. Moreover, Edna is independent, strong-willed, and does not answer to her husband. In contrast, Mademoiselle Ratignolle is the ideal woman because she gives her whole self to her husband and children. Although Adele is the optimal woman, Adele is living a farce. In reality, Adele is intelligent and has the ability to think for herself. Despite Adele’s acumen, Adele plays the character of a subservient woman, due to the fact that an obedient woman was perceived as perfect in the late 19th century. Edna differs from Adele in that Edna does not hide who she really is; Edna voices her opinions and does what she wants. The two characters, Adele and Edna, are foils because Adele plays the game of a submissive wife while Edna is her true self.

In Kate Chopin, “The Awakening”, longing for passion and freedom Edna Pontellier leaves the safety of her gilded cage, only to find that death is her only salvation. In the 1800’s the main role in society for a female was to be a wife and mother, women at this time were the property of their husbands and had little say in anything. Which for Edna was the opposite of what she wanted, she wanted to be free from these responsibilities and to live her own life. Although Edna is not a victim in the role society has chosen for her, she freely walked into her gilded cage and into the role of wife to Leonce Pontellier and mother to their children. The longer she stayed in her marriage, the more she realizes that the passion she needed was not

Constant struggle for power, control, and self direction is experienced by every human being at some point in their life time. In some desperate cases this struggle can lead someone to do something momentous. In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, the lead character, Edna, faces extreme sexism in a time where women were expected to act only as a primal caretaker. Edna’s search for self empowerment in a time where men were the primary decision makers causes her to make crucial sacrifices only to find out that there is no way she can truly control her life.

As Edna is grieving over Robert leaving her, Alcee comes into her life. Edna is warned by a friend to watch out for Alcee, and that his intentions “alone are considered enough to ruin a woman's name” (153). Edna ignores the warning and ends up having an affair with Alcee. Once he becomes apparent in Edna’s life, Alcee becomes condescending and proprietary towards Edna, leaving her with little control in the

Edna’s awakening is important because in 1899, women did not have autonomy; their main purpose was domesticity. The church and patriarchy reined over women who were the property of their husbands and considered inferior to men with no sexual desire. Chopin presents Mr. Pontellier as a perfect specimen of late nineteenth century patriarchy. Some women thrive in this culture as Chopin demonstrates through Mrs. Ratignolle. However, for many women, like Edna this world was suffocating. The natural reaction to this oppression is feminism, but Chopin does not preach feminism

“The Awakening” was an interesting novel that investigated topics on self expression and identity in typical Victorian day society. The author, Kate Chopin revealed this idea through the perspective of the main character Edna Pontellier, a traditional married woman who is awoken to her senses of who she was as an individual. The plot centers on Edna, who steps out of the normal expectations for women in society. She meets characters that develop her awoken state like Robert, encourage her like Mademoiselle Reisz or pull her back into society like Adele Ratignolle. Anyhow, the story tragically ends with Edna committing suicide by drowning herself at sea. She takes steps to express her identity,

Edna realizes that the patriarchal society is quick to condemn particularly a freedom-seeking woman who neglects her children since she is “intended by nature” to take care of them (Dyer 126). She is "uneven and impulsive" in her affections for her children. When they leave to visit their grandmother, she is relieved because she is not suited to the responsibilities of motherhood. Edna’s mind was at rest concerning the present material needs of her children:

This statement is supported by the strong contrast between Edna and Adele, who enjoys being a mother. However, Edna’s breakoff from her family is clearly stemmed

Edna’s husband expected much of her ,more then she wanted to give. Edna started as an immature woman which was encouraged by her husband, who wanted to be the dominant figure in their relationship. Striving for independence, and unhappy with her mundane life, she wanted something different. Her infidelity leads to more sadness, because she fell in love with Robert, who leaves.

In Kate Chopin’s novel, “The Awakening”, Edna finds herself in a society where women were socially confined to be mothers and wives. This novel embodies the struggle of women in the society for independence along with the presence of women struggling to live up to the demands that their strict culture has placed upon them. A part of Edna wants to meet the standards of mother and wife that society has set, however her biggest desire is to be a woman free from the oppression of a society that is male dominant. Readers will find that the foundation of “The Awakening” the feminist perspective because of the passion that Edna has for gaining her own identity, and independence,