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The Role Of Motherhood In The Awakening By Kate Chopin

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During the late 19th century, women had significantly less freedom than they have today. They were expected to bear children and devote their entire lives to them. Madame Ratignolle from The Awakening is an epitome of a woman who accepts the role society gives her. For instance, she eagerly states that she is willing to give up her life for her children (Chopin 52). While some women are suitable for the role of motherhood, others are forced into it. Edna Pontellier is one such character. She feels like there is more to life than simply taking care of her children, but her society dictates that she comply with her obligations. In The Awakening, Kate Chopin uses Edna Ponteiller’s struggle between her duties as a mother and her desire to be free …show more content…

She views her children as “antagonists who had overcome her; who had overpowered and sought to drag her into the soul’s slavery for the rest of her days” (120). To Edna, there is only one way to escape the predicament of losing her soul to motherhood. She swims out into the sea in which she first awakens and swims until “the shore was far behind her, and her strength was gone” (121). In this, Edna lives up to her words that she can sacrifice her life for her children, but she can never sacrifice her soul to them. Edna's belief that death is the only option for her demonstrates that women just like her are pushed to the brink of life. For those who are not as fortunate to escape with their sense of self intact, they often do lose their souls and become mere property whose only purpose in life is to take care of the children they never wanted to have. Kate Chopin demonstrates how unfair it is that so many women do not have a choice in their own lives. While men can escape parenthood as Mr. Pontellier has done when he leaves to go to a club with his friends, women are forced to take care of their children because it is impossible for them to be seen as respectable without adhering to what society deems is proper. The lack of freedom drives many women like Edna to take their own

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