Critical Analysis Of The Awakening

A product of the religious revival in Western Europe from late 17th century to early 18th century, the First Great Awakening was a period of religious growth throughout the British American colonies from approximately 1720 to the 1740s. This awakening was led by many religious figures such as John Wesley - a founder of Methodism in the Church of England, George Whitefield - an Anglican who preached throughout the colonies from 1739 to 1740, and Jonathan Edwards - an Apologist of the Great Awakening who led the revival in Northampton, Massachusetts. Although this period of religious high is referred to as “The First Great Awakening,” historians still debate whether or not this grandiose title is deserved.

Edna Pontellier is married to Leonce Pontellier, a businessman who expects Edna to follow the social norm and be the perfect wife to him and cater to his needs. Leonce is blind throughout the novel.

The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, is the story of a woman who is seeking freedom. Edna Pontellier feels confined in her role as mother and wife and finds freedom in her romantic interest, Robert Lebrun. Although she views Robert as her liberator, he is the ultimate cause of her demise. Edna sees Robert as an image of freedom, which brings her to rebel against her role in society. This pursuit of freedom, however, causes her death. Chopin uses many images to clarify the relationship between Robert and Edna and to show that Robert is the cause of both her freedom and her destruction.

     Leonce Pontellier, the husband of Edna Pontellier in Kate Chopin's The Awakening, becomes very perturbed when his wife, in the period of a few months, suddenly drops all of her responsibilities. After she admits that she has "let things go," he angrily asks, "on account of what?" Edna is unable to provide a definite answer, and says, "Oh! I don't know. Let me along; you bother me" (108). The uncertainty she expresses springs out of the ambiguous nature of the transformation she has undergone. It is easy to read Edna's transformation in strictly negative terms‹as a move away from the repressive expectations of her husband and society‹or in strictly positive terms‹as a move toward the love and

The humanly gift of imagination is a unique power within that subconsciously is a locomotor to both the body and spirit to a person 's individual Elysium. It goes far and beyond our cognition into an exuberant fantasy molded by our wants and desires, reaching untamed worlds. Turning imagination into realism is denounced as an impossible being, but it 's in fact the awakening to our lucid dreaming. Edna Pontellier is a woman with a heart that soared beyond the horizons into a limitless world, forced into cage by the inevitable way of life. Kate Chopin through the beautifully sculpted novel “The Awakening” condemned Edna with a mindset beyond her years, finding meaning through her unsocial actions shunned by the eyes of others. Edna used her

As the novel progresses, Edna is able to escape from the hands of Leonce Pontellier, and she moves into a small house down the street in which she calls the pigeon house. The symbol of the bird is used here by saying she may be able to release herself from Leonce but she isn’t able to release herself from society, that she if forever trapped. In the end of the novel, before Edna’s tragedy, a bird with a broken wing crashes into the sea. This bird can be connected with the advice that Mademoiselle Reisz told Edna that she needed strong wings to soar. The connection for shadows Edna’s tragedy, and reveals her complete failure to find complete freedom and happiness.

The great awakening was a devoted religious revival movement in the 1720s through the 1740s that was spread throughout the colonies by ministers. It inspired ordinary citizen to assert their right to independent judgment by allowing them to make their own decisions about their religion and personal lives. The great awakening sparked people to stand up for what they believed in; their religion. It inspired ordinary citizens to stand up against the authority so that they could basically have freedom of religion.

During the Second Great Awakening many Americans were stirred by passionate religious movements and Mormonism was one of them. Although it initially began as a revelation given to Joseph Smith, his strong beliefs led to powerful revivals in the New York area that drew people from across the northeast. Despite strong interest and numerous converters to the faith, the Mormon community would not remain in the New York area for long. Though they had an objective of spreading Mormonism throughout America and other parts of the world, this was only part of the reason for their move west. Religious persecution, government issues, spiritual revelation, financial problems, and land disputes ultimately led to their decision to settle in Utah.

The main outcome of the Awakening was a resistance in contrast to spiritual law which leaked into different zones of colonial life. In spite of the fact that a religious development, the Awakening had ramifications in social and political circles also. Traditions of thoughtfulness and obligingness, the overseeing standards of life in the colonies, were put aside for a more difficult stage. The Great Awakening is generally partitioned into four times of American history. The initially happened while America was still a part of the English settlements. Such religious masterminds as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield urged a scholarly method to scripture. Amid this period, the houses of worship in the colonies were still particularly fixing

Described as theologically significant, The First Great Awakening (c. 1735-1743) was the beginning of a revitalization that hit the American colonies by storm. It began to form once religion had eased down and preachers began to take an emotional foot in religion and increasing liberalism - Armenia (free will) ideals began to form. George Whitefield, a circuit rider who preached spiritual awakening, and Jonathan Edwards, imposed fear in people by claiming God had already chosen who get his salvation, were the main contributors to the First Great Awakening. The Second Great Awakening (c.1795-1830) was experienced across the country due to the advancement in the nation's economic growth. Preachers often spoke emotionally about their message to increase the reaction in people. Preaches proclaimed that the power of eternal salvation is in the hands of the person to decided to be saved and avoid eternal damnation. This ideals were closest related/influenced by Arminianism which sinfulness is a choice rather than a destiny in which it appealed to more people because of its optimistic outlook. The First Great Awakening changed religious ideology by promoting Calvinist ideals and individualism amongst people; The Second Great Awakening promoted salvation and damnation at the expense of the person true willingness to be saved, positive female roles in the church and the infusion of lower classes with higher classes; both transforming the methods of worship to become more emotionally

Leonce Pontellier, the husband of Edna, is the story 's antagonist. He is materialistic, due to him being a wealthy businessman, and also forty years old. His high status came at a cost; he is very concerned with appearance and how others view him."The way to become rich is to make money, my dear Edna, not to save it," he said. He regretted that she did not feel inclined to go with him and select new fixtures. He kissed her goodbye, and told her she was not looking well and must take care of herself. She was unusually pale and very quiet” (18). He also treats Edna as mere property "You are burnt beyond recognition," he added, looking at his wife as one

The well-being of his children and himself was more important to him but he wanted Edna to be the person who was to fulfill the justifications of their needs and wants in the family. On (Chopin 5), line 1-3 states, paragraph 1 states, “He thought it was very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation.” Communication is key in a relationship and it plays a big role in society today. But back in 1800s it was considered to be something that wasn’t needed. Women were just viewed as objects that men can toy with in any sort of way. On (Chopin 50), lines 5-6, paragraph 2 states, “after he had bought it and placed it among his household gods.” Leonce thought of Edna as his object. He viewed her as his most “expensive object.” Therefore he wanted Edna to be “worth much of his money.” He spent very much of his money so he expects much back from her but couldn’t seemed to get much use of Edna. Edna was looking for love since Leonce didn’t show her any. She wanted to feel revived with love again and feel the rewarding pleasures of dopamine. Since Edna had infringed upon her husband, Leonce thought she slowly acquired a mental disability. He felt like everyone but Edna obliged to their husbands since it was based off of society that it was husbands to be in control of their wives and women were supposed to do as told so by

For example, Robert Lebrun, who gives her all the affection and attention she wants, makes her feel and act like how she was before she was married. As a result, she starts to disregard her husband and his commands. Such as in the event, when Mr. Pontellier commanded her to come inside the house after a long night. However, Mrs. Pontellier disobeyed him and stayed outside. “She would, through habit, have yielded to his desire; not with any sense of submission or obedience to his compelling wishes, but unthinkingly, as we walk, move, sit, stand, go through the daily treadmill of the life which has been portioned out to us” (Chopin 40). At this stage of Mrs. Pontellier greatly values the kind of freedom she had before marriage. Her newly oppression towards her husband exhibits the defiance of women towards men. Chopin meant to show Mrs. Pontellier as an outsider of society, in order to spread the image of women, who can make their own decisions.

Throughout The Awakening, a novel by Kate Chopin, the main character, Edna Pontellier showed signs of a growing depression. There are certain events that hasten this, events which eventually lead her to suicide.

    The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, is full of ideas and understanding about human nature. In Chopin's time, writing a story with such great attention to sensual details in both men and women caused skepticism among readers and critics. However, many critics have different views with deeper thought given to The Awakening. Symbolism, the interpretation of Edna's suicide, and awakenings play important roles in the analysis of all critics.