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Feminism And Identity In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

1544 Words7 Pages

In contemporary society, feminism and the freedom to express and explore one’s identity make up a large portion of the issues that are at the forefront of public concern and that seem to be of paramount priority nationwide. Although these are often viewed as more modern topics and dilemmas, a nineteenth-century author by the name of Kate Chopin addresses similar ideas such as self-awareness, sexuality, and personal discovery through the main character, Edna Pontellier, in her novel, The Awakening. Throughout the plot, Edna experiences a progressive “awakening” in which she develops an enlightened knowledge regarding her own desires and interests, even though the conventions of the Victorian society of that era clearly opposed her behavior. From Grand Isle to New Orleans, Edna meets and befriends several people that all contribute to her journey of awakening, but, in the very end, it seems as though she has never been more alone and isolated. In a final attempt to escape the confines of her own life, she swims far out into the ocean and allows its caress to overtake her in what is implied to be an ambiguous suicide characterized by both triumph and tragedy. However, despite the opinion of some critics, Edna’s suicide is the evident manifestation of her failure to maintain a life of rebellion and independence from the restrictions of society placed on women. To begin with, Edna reveals herself to be emotionally immature and childishly impulsive throughout the beginning of

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