The Awakening by Kate Chopin

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Title: The Awakening (1899)

Author: Kate Chopin (2/8/1850 – 8/22/1904) Born in St. Louis, Missouri but at the age of 20 moved to New Orleans

Setting: New Orleans / late 1800’s early 1900’s

Theme: Edna Pontellier is an example of what happens when a person breaks out against society and seeks independence.

Plot Synopsis: The story takes place near New Orleans on Grand Isle where Edna and her family have a summer home. At the island Edna meets various characters such as Robert, Adele Ratignolle, and Mademoiselle Reisz. Each of these characters through interactions with Edna, reveal something new of her. As the novel progresses the reader sees that Edna begins to seek other men other than her husband and is more independent doing as she pleases worrying everyone around her. By the end of the novel her independence brings her own suicide out in to the ocean where she felt the most freedom.   

Characters:

Edna Pontellier: She is the main character of the story and it shows her journey to seek out freedom. She can either be the antagonist for going against society or the protagonist for being the first and strongest women to break the expectations of the time

Adele Ratignolle: She is the ideal woman who lives only for her children and husband and is not content unless she does this. She may be bound to these rules but she is happy with where she is in society.

Robert Lebrun: He seeks out women of higher class then himself and flirts around with them. He flirts around with Edna and they end up having a relationship which Edna begins to crave more and more

Leonce Pontellier; He is the ideal husband of which every woman on the island compliments. His only problem is that he sees his wife as a piece of property and demands off her to care for the children and be a housewife.

Symbols, Allusions, Distinguishing characteristics:

The Sea: The ocean is Edna site of rebirth and awakening. When she swims out for the first time she feels good because she feels she has gone where no woman has ever gone before. From this point on is where the reader begins to see a change in her attitude and lifestyle. The sea is also her place of death because in the end she walks out and kills herself.

Quotation:

"A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul. She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before." (Chapter 10)



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