The Awakening Feminism

The beginning of the feminist movement in the 1900’s, sparked much attention from those who lived at this time. The changes in attitude brought forth from the feminist movement made many men feel threatened and uncomfortable. In 1899, Kate Chopin published the feminist novel, The Awakening, which created much controversy. The protagonist of the story, Edna Pontellier, emerges from her own “awakening,” and gains her own independence from breaking away from society. However, her struggle with herself and society overtakes her and Edna’s sudden awakening ends in tragedy. In Kate Chopin’s debated novel, The Awakening, the author utilizes the symbol of the sea to represent the rebirth of Edna’s soul and her escape from society.

As Edna tries to transition into the Creole society, she becomes aware of the intensity that is put on being an ideal wife and woman in the 20th century. A woman is supposed to love her husband, care for her children, be respectful, and obey her husband. Throughout her life in Grand Isle and her neighborhood, Edna awakens to the idea of a different way of living and a new view of the world. In Chopin’s story, she states that, “In short, Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her”(Chopin 17). In The Awakening, Kate Chopin uses the determination of an awakened woman to demolish the stereotypical roles of a twentieth century woman.

Thesis- In The Awakening, Kate Chopin utilizes symbolic imagery to illustrate Edna’s inability to truly break from society, perpetuating her circular growth.

In the Awakening Edna Pontellier was an unstable character, she upsets the expectations of the nineteen century women’s role. Chopin focuses on two females that influence Edna`s life and help her in what we see are her awakenings Both of these characters will represent the role of women’s in the nineteen century. Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz are the examples that the men around Edna contrast her with and who they obtain their expectations for her. Edna begins to see that the life of freedom and individuality that she wants goes against both society and nature. She cannot free herself not even through suicide. From these two women’s Edna awakens and feels and understands the women or motherhood image she just does not see the male figure. Both of these characters will represent the role of women’s in the nineteen century.

Often times, literary works can easily distinguish between a good character or an evil character. Other times, a character can be very complex, which makes it difficult to characterize the character as good or evil. This complex character complex is known as Moral Ambiguity. In other words, readers are discouraged from identifying a character as purely good or evil. One particular character that can be views as morally ambiguous is a woman named Edna Pontellier. Edna from Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” can be perceived as morally ambiguous because of her affiliations with other men, and role-defying actions; however, both contribute to “The Awakening” as a whole.

In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, the role of women in the late 1800’s is explored through Edna Pontellier, Madam Adele Ratignolle, and Mademoiselle Reisz. The Awakening was often condemned because they claim that Chopin did not punish “her adulterous heroine [Edna Pontellier]” (Davis). However, The Awakening is considered to be Chopin’s major achievement (Davis) and “ a novel ahead of its time…” (Davis). Chopin wrote The Awakening in third person and incorporated thoughts of the other characters, sometimes interjecting her own voice, but she never let the reader avert their attention from the main character, Edna Pontellier (Green).

Daisy becomes increasingly emotionally torn as her affair with Gatsby continues. She becomes stressed with Gatsby and his expectations for her. Gatsby desires the old Daisy that he first fell madly in love with. She feels pressure as Gatsby’s affections turn into almost worship of her. Soon she begins to realize that what they had in the past was precious, but she realizes she still loves Tom. For example, in the Great Gatsby Daisy states, "They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the think folds. "It makes me sad because I've never seen such – such beautiful shirts before" (Fitzgerald 118-119). Daisy knows that Gatsby was a bootlegger and he lived by criminal activity. Gatsby’s true nature was uncovered. It was his

In chapters 21-26 of The Awakening by Kate Chopin Edna Pontellier begins a new relationship with another player of the town. She soon realizes that she is truly in love with Robert and decides to move out of her house. This would allow her to finally be free from her husband, and she would not need his money or support to live her life.

“I see Leonce isn’t coming back,” she said, with a glance in the direction whence her husband had disappeared.” (Chopin 6). This quote is from the novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin. This quote explains a relationship that seems to be dwindling as a family begins to separate. Edna, the wife decides to go her own way leaving her family behind to fulfill her desire of happiness that isn’t found. This is only one of the ways that the formal approach is conveyed in this novel. In The Awakening the formalistic critical approach has affected the outcome of the novel. A good example is some of the recurring patterns that have been made from the beginning to the ending.

The quote “The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from their readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events--a marriage or a last minute rescue from death--but some kind of spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death” by British novelist Fay Weldon relates to the ending of The Awakening in how Edna’s final views and thoughts of herself and her life have evolved throughout the novel. Edna undergoes a significant change in attitude, behavior, and overall character. Edna’s rebellion against societal norms seems to be more intrinsically motivated rather than by extrinsic forces. Throughout the course of the novel, Edna struggles with her inner thoughts, feelings, and becoming her true self rather than just living the expected lifestyle of a typical upper class housewife.

Throughout the nineteenth century, the age of Edna Pontellier, a female`s role in society was restricted to worshipping her kids and conforming to her spouse. Kate Chopin's The Awakening encompasses the disappointment and achievement in a female's life as she endeavors to survive these stringent cultural demands. Disregarding the stereotype of a "mother-woman," Edna fights the pressures that require her to follow a submissive and dutiful routine. Though Edna's eventual suicide misrepresents her struggles against a tyrannical society, The Awakening upholds and promotes feminism as a method for women to acquire individual identity.

Kate Chopin’s novella The Awakening is about the young Edna Pontellier and her struggle with fitting into her role as a wife and a mother. During a vacation at La Grand Isle she meets Robert Lebrun, who is the man she later throws her love upon. Her newfound love and her growing desire to be independent from all aspects of society drives her further and further away from her husband and children, and the lengths she is willing to go to for her freedom expands dramatically. Robert Lebrun and Edna both have secret growing feelings for each other that they are unable to fulfill when they start developing, but when Edna has finally separated herself enough from her family to attempt a life with Robert, he is unwilling to follow her dream. All through

Kate Chopin stood as a feminist icon at the turn of the nineteenth century with feminism running rampant through her short stories. In The Awakening, Edna Pontellier is often seen as the ideal feminist, due to her sought out independence from her husband and her family. Often readers overlook Madame Adele Ratignolle as a feminist because she is thought to be the perfect mother and wife, unlike Edna as she separates herself from her family in search of a personal awakening in a way that would be seen as selfish. The reader is led to believe that Adele is the complete opposite of Edna because she is the “mother-woman” of the story. Madame Adele is not perfect by any means; regardless of what stereotype the narrator tries to place her in. Even

The rebirth of the unknown outshines wisdom and understanding of the social aspects of life. Through life experiences an individual’s conscience is filed with unanswered questions being chained down to society. The life of a woman during the 1800s has chained down to responsibilities and duties to fulfill. In the novel “Awakening by Kate Chopin ‘protagonist Edna Pontellier is victimized by the rules and aspects of society that seem to overshadow self-identity.

The Enlightenment (1650-1800) also referred to as the “Age of Reason” eventually morphed into 19th century Romanticism. Throughout the period of Enlightenment and Romanticism we see an emergence of independent thought, which resulted in freedom to know and understand. The Enlightenment was a period that spawned many philosophical, intellectual and social movements throughout much of Europe. Furthermore, it lead to countless intellectual break throughs in disciplines such as: mathematics, philosophy and medicine. Scholars of the time thought that all humans should strive to increase knowledge rather than rely on emotional impulses.