Why Is Edna Pontellier's Use Of Solitude In The Awakening

Title: The Awakening Author: Kate Chopin Setting: Grand Isle and New Orleans in the early 19th century Genre: Tragedy Historical context: The Awakening takes place when women were seen as a man’s possession. Mr. Pontellier looks at Edna as a possession. Women were expected to stay devoted to their husband and children and remain a stereotypical housewife whose main job is to clean, cook and care for the children. (Adele) Edna rivals against these standards as she challenges society 's expectations of women during the early 19th century.

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.

Hailey Hudson 2 January, 2018 AP Lit and Comp Mrs. Schroder An Analysis of Alienation in The Awakening In Kate Chopin’s classic novella The Awakening, the development of Edna Pontellier serves to shine a light on the strict societal morals, values, and gender roles of the late 1800s. Edna is an outsider in nearly every sense of the word, and as the story progresses, she begins to accept this part of her and take her search for fulfillment to an entirely new level. The fallout from these actions, the rifts opened between her and those closest to her in life, ultimately proves too arduous, and leads to her death.

In the final chapters of The Awakening, Chopin utilizes Edna’s confirmation of her freedom and her actions that facilitate her escape from society to promote the work’s theme that advocates for an increase in female equality through the denial of societal expectations and oppression. After Adele’s childbirth, Mandelet contrasts Edna with the “unimpressionable women” whom Adele should have requested instead of her, characterizing Edna’s dependence on outside opinions (111). However, while Mandelet’s words correctly identify Edna during her time previously living with Leonce and her children, his analysis fails to account for her increased independence that she establishes throughout the book with her resistance to Leonce’s commands. These actions

In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, Edna removes herself from Leonce by purchasing her own house in order to gain independence. This incident shows the idea of not meeting social expectations. Edna, Robert and, Reisz break away from society to become independent and self-sufficient which helps guide them chose their own roles in society. They do not allow society to define them, but go on a journey to discover themselves.

In the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, the main character, Edna Pontellier, makes the decision to become a completely independent by straying away from the restraints placed onto her by her husband, children and society. In the end of the novel, the audience is left to determine why Edna decides to commit suicide. The predominant reason Chopin reveals throughout the novel is the idea that suicide is a way for Edna to escape the confined life she was living and truly become the free woman she is dreaming of becoming. Since Edna lived during a time during women were oppressed in every way possible, Edna’s search for freedom is limited.

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. Enda becomes extremely close to Mademoiselle Reisz, because in many ways they are similar. Mademoiselle Reisz is an independent woman which is what Edna is longing for.

Symbols of Freedom: Sea and Birds in “The Awakening” Chopin challenges the gender roles expectations imposed on married women during the nineteenth century in her novel, “The Awakening.” The main protagonist, Edna, initially symbolizes the conventional woman; she is married to Leonce Pontellier and they have two children. Later, at Grand Isle, she experiences dissatisfaction with her life and marriage. Edna experiences a stirring in her soul that exposes contradictions between her natural self and “gendered” self. She wants to break free from social norms that bind her to motherhood, and this is her natural self in conflict with her “gendered” identity.

In the book “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin, the main character Edna Pontellier, is faced with many troubles. One of her troubles is the internal conflict of her facing herself and realizing her own identity. She is constantly under pressure to be the person she is expected to be by her peers, friends, and family. She ultimately does being to break free and find her identity even if it did mean that she must kill herself in order to do so. Edna is constantly under pressure from all of the people around her.

In Kate Chopin 's "The Awakening," the mentality of the feminist woman was depicted obviously as she composed, "How abnormal and terrible it appeared to stand exposed under the sky! How delightful! She felt like some new-conceived animal, opening its eyes in a commonplace world that it had never known" (Chopin 627). This quote depicts a radical change from the earliest starting point of the novel when Edna existed in a semi-cognizant state while wedded to Leonce and having kids; however around then she didn 't know about her own aspirations and sentiments. The encounters Edna had and all the people she met on Grand Isle stirred wishes for opportunity, sexual fulfillment, music, and