ipl-logo

Outward Conformity In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

825 Words4 Pages

It is common for people in everyday society to conform to society’s expectations while also questioning their true desires. In the novel, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, the main protagonist Edna Pontellier is said to possess, "That outward existence which conforms, the inward life that questions." In other words, Edna outwardly conforms while questioning inwardly. Kate Chopin, uses this tension between outward conformity and inward questioning to build the meaning of the novel by examining Edna’s role as a wife, mother, and as nontraditional woman in the traditional Victorian period. Edna outwardly conforms to society’s expectations by marriage. In the novel, Edna often feels like her marriage was a misfortune. For example, Edna believes, …show more content…

Women during Edna’s time were supposed to be dedicated to their husbands and children, however, Edna yearned for her own independence, and as a result of wanting her own independence Edna knew that she was seen as a terrible person. For instance Edna wanted to “…try to determine what character of a woman I am; for, candidly, I don't know. By all the codes which I am acquainted with, I am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can't convince myself that I am. I must think about it" (27.4). Edna fully understands that society would brand her as a terrible woman, but she does not view herself as a bad person. There is an external and internal difference that Edna hopes to one day reconcile. Chopin, instead of creating tension within Edna, created tension within the society and Edna with her newfound independence does not mind how society classifies her. Decisively, it can be concluded that the tension between outward conformity and inward questioning builds the meaning of the novel by examining Edna’s role as a wife, mother, and as nontraditional woman in the traditional Victorian period. By Edna conforming to society’s expectations, she was able to question what she truly desired. If Edna did not conform, then Edna would have not understood that she longed for independence and the novel would have no solidified

Show More
Related

  • Juxtaposition In The Awakening

    999 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ever since Edna’s awakening, her life has become more black and white on melancholy days and more colorful and vibrant on bright, jolly days; there was no in between. For example, when Robert left for Mexico, Edna realized that he had “taken the brightness, the color, the meaning out of everything.” (Chapter 16) She was distraught by the fact that the man she was infatuated with for the past couple of weeks who stayed by her side for most of the hours in each day just left without any excusable explanation while her marriage to her husband was completely accidental and on the brim of falling apart. There was a big difference in how Edna accepted her marriage with Léonce in the beginning compared to the end.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    1045 Words  | 5 Pages

    Edna 's inability to surrender to the notions of society causes her think in illusory ways that are unsustainable. It seems inevitable that Edna, at some point, will arouse from the dream that she is living; Edna 's decease was imminent from the moment of her awakening. Throughout the book, it is clear that Edna is searching for contentedness; however, it seemed the more she longed for contentment, the more she—paradoxically—exhibited contemptuous behavior. This is exemplified by the thoughts of Mr. Pontellier:

    Read More

  • Gender Norms In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    583 Words  | 3 Pages

    Her other wifely duties bring her no excitement, only disappointment. The gender set rules hinder Edna’s character in many ways. These norms limit her freedom, but more importantly, it compels her to feel trapped within a society bound by expectations. Furthermore, it influences her outlook on life and perhaps the state of her personal life, which causes her to be more self- involved. And if this selfishness continues, it may be detrimental to her family and herself.

    Read More

  • Living Outside The Norm In The Awakening

    863 Words  | 4 Pages

    All these changes Edna made were so meaningful and represents her actual personality. Before her awakening she didn’t show anything of her true personality along with millions of women. Many people judged and mistreated her, but no matter what the obstacles were in Edna’s way she tried overcoming them the best way she can. Not only society was countering her ways of thinking, but also her husband, Leonce

    Read More

  • The Awakening Literary Analysis

    1249 Words  | 5 Pages

    Discovering her emotions and recognizing the repression in which women endure all their life, Edna makes the decision to be a free human being with ownership to no one. Edna boldly declares to Robert that she is “no longer one of Mr. Pontellier’s possessions to dispose of or not” (146), expressing her choice to be an influential person rather than simply a prize of Mr. Pontelliers. With the importance of materialistic images in the Creole society, Edna choosing to be a person rather than a possession that Leonce bought and paid for is viewed as an action deemed unwomanly and inappropriate. While throughout the novel Edna commits actions that relay the theme of independence, Chapter 36 is the first time when Edna affirms that she believes herself to be a single woman. Edna chooses to throw away her husband, children, and every material item she has in return for her own independence and voice in the world.

    Read More

  • What Is The First Portrait Of Edna Pontellier's Character

    331 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another side of her inner self showing was when she was refusing to get out of the hammock “With a writhing motion she settled herself more securely in the hammock. She perceived that her will had blazed up,” (Chopin 31). This expresses her attitude against her husband in which she does not care if she disobeys him. In conclusion, Edna has two very distinct personalities when it comes with what is on the outside and the inside of

    Read More

  • Ocean Symbolism In The Awakening

    925 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the 1800’s, the societal niche of married women was clearly defined: they were meant to devote every aspect of their lives to their husbands and children. Edna Pontellier, the protagonist in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, struggles to adhere to these standards, and eventually rebels against them. The harsh standards placed on Edna and other women in the novel are like the cages around the metaphorical birds Chopin uses to represent them. Edna's unhappiness in her societal role is realized in the ocean, which symbolizes this awakening and her attempt to escape the gender roles of the nineteenth century.

    Read More

  • Conformity In The Awakening

    849 Words  | 4 Pages

    Edna continually questions whether or not she is destined to live a life of subordination or if she can find her own freedom. Edna Pontellier’s defiant nature is brought out

    Read More

  • Edna's Characterization In The Awakening

    467 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some of Edna’s most obvious decisions immediately question her weakness to handle pressure. Edna’s inability to show compassion and care for her children challenge this normalcy for a mother of the time period; Edna considered her children “like antagonists who had overcome her; who had overpowered and sought to drag her into the soul's slavery for the rest of her days” (Chopin 115). The children almost seemed like a burden, or a detriment to her. Edna’s doctor visit nearly foreshadows this mindset, where the doctor notes that

    Read More

  • Dishonesty In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    561 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every situation has it own point of view. In the novel, Edna attempted to convinved herself that whateer dishonesty she was doing was not wrong. She seems to be drowning herself in her own issues. throughout the novel, she commits moral crimes such as maintaining a false marriage.

    Read More

  • Moral Ambiguity In Kate Chopin's The Awa

    603 Words  | 3 Pages

    Edna even says herself, “I would give up the unessential…my money…my life for my children, but not myself.” For her life, Edna realized that means her marriage and physical life. As far as her marriage, Edna was never truly happy with her marriage with Leonce. Furthermore, Edna states she truly cares for her children, but sometimes her search for herself may conflict with this. This then further discourages readers even more due to the fact that this gives insight to her actions, and somewhat justifies them.

    Read More

  • Edna Pontellier As An Outlier In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    970 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Edna is forced to face two different obligations in life, one to follow her passions and be an individual, and the other to be practical and follow the dictations of society. Through Edna’s struggle of passion versus practicality, it becomes clear that being an individual is better than conforming to society. It is better to be an outlier. Edna’s passions often get in the way of her duties in society, causing

    Read More

  • Edna's Roles In The Awakening

    1386 Words  | 6 Pages

    Moreover, when her children tumbled, she will not pick them up just let them get up on their own. In contrast to Adele, Edna is not contributing herself to her family as well as Adele. Edna tries to fit in as the role to be a good mother, but, she cannot definitely, to be a mother-woman cannot fulfill her eagerness to be a special, independent and egocentric person. In Chapter XVI, Edna said to Adele, she would give her money and her life to children, but never herself. And that is what she is trying to understand and recognize.

    Read More

  • The Awakening Reality Essay

    672 Words  | 3 Pages

    First of all, Edna wanted to break her place in society as she was part of the “mother- woman” status. Chopin used round character to describe Edna’s dramatic change throughout the novel as she has the “ability to publicly flirt” and go with other men, even though she was originally

    Read More

  • Theme Of Language In The Awakening By Kate Chopin

    1210 Words  | 5 Pages

    This socially constructed identity is the first of the many that Edna grapples with in the text. It is the identity of women within the time period of the text. In the words of Dix, Edna’s identity is meant to be that of a typical American wife who will control the home, children and entertain socially yet remain obedient to her working husband (146). ‘Looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property’ (Chopin 4). The

    Read More

More about Outward Conformity In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Open Document