Angela Jong

March 19, 2009

APUSH
Extra Credit
The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Intro
Chopin writes a radical novel advocating feminism and addressing
the need for women to break free from the restrictive roles that society
has placed through the story of Edna Pontellier. Edna is a young woman
of 29 who is married to a devoted rich Creole man of whom she finds
herself affectionate, but not passionate for. Edna continues on in her
marriage, ever content with her two boys and house in perfect order
until her summer at Grand Isle. It is at Grand Isle where she discovers
her stifled spirit, only to awaken to the horrible realization of the dream
that she has been living. An unbridled fervor releases in Edna a torrent
of emotions and a constant discontent with her situation and the need to
become independent from her husband. The spark for this ‘awakening’
is derived from the overwhelming joy that she experiences from Robert
Lebrun. However, her inability to resolve these new sentiments leads to
her suicide.

Body
Chopin epitomizes the typical family roles during the 1890s with
the expectations of women as figures “at the head of a household, the
mother of children….employed contriving for the comfort to her
family”. She does not condemn such roles exactly, but states that she
would “give up the nonessentials, but will not give up her life for her
children.” Chopin uses Edna Pontellier to reject many of society’s
norms. Edna attempts break free from traditional female roles by
isolating herself and seeking independence. A symbol of her final
break from her identity as a mother/wife is seen when Edna silently
rages and breaks her wedding ring. Additionally, Chopin leaves readers
stunned with the suicide of Edna that signifies her final escape from
society’s constraints.

Written in 1899, The Awakening questioned the norms of society

concerning the role of women. It aroused national scandal for its
supposed indecency and was banned from libraries. However after its
discovery years later, it has been praised for addressing women’s
rights issues, but criticized for the treatment of class and race. In that
aspect, Chopin’s novel is atypical to the era because of its inability to
relate the treatment of women with the plight of African Americans.
Summary
The Awakening was historically accurate in the descriptions of
characters. Chopin used three types of women to symbolize the
different sentiments of the time. The ideal woman is portrayed through
Adèle Ratignolle, the independent is Mademoiselle Reisz with her
single and artistic lifestyle, and then there is Edna Pontellier. Edna is
the one who dares to question her own lifestyle and to put her
ambitions before others. This novel proved to be enlightening in
understanding the inner turmoil felt by many women of the era.
Although, unwelcome at the time of publication, the Awakening, is very
progressive for the time period and resembles the philosophy of Ayn
Rand with the idea of looking to one’s self first before others.