freeaw The Awakening as a Story of Independence and Freedom :: Chopin Awakening Essays

The Awakening as a Story of Independence and license Kate Chopins The Awakening is a work of fiction that tells the story ofEdna Pontellier, Southern wife and mother. This book presents the readerwith many tough questions and few answers. It is not hard to create mentally whythis book was banished for decades not long after its initial publicationin 1899. At that time in history, women did just what they were expected todo. They were expected to be good daughters, good wives, and good mothers.A woman was expected to move from the protection of her fathers roof tothe protection of her husband. Edna didnt fit this mold, and thateventually leads her husband to send for a doctor. It is here that EdnaPontellier says words that define The Awakening, I dont want anything butmy own way. That is wanting a good deal, of course, when you have totrample upon the lives, the hearts, the prejudices of others - but nomatter_ As the book begins, Edna is a married woman who seems vaguely sa tisfiedwith her life. However, she cannot find true happiness. Her awakeningbegins when a persistent young man named Robert begins courting her. Ednabegins to answer to him with a passion she hasnt felt before. She beginsto realize that she can play roles other than wife and mother. Throughout the book Edna takes many steps to increase her independence. Shesends her children away, she refuses to stay at home on Tuesdays (as wasthe social convention of the time), she frequents races and parties.Unfortunately, her independence proves to be her downfall. Edna stays married because divorce was unheard of in those days. She wantsto marry Robert, but he go out not because it will disgrace her to leave herhusband. No matter how much Edna exceeds social boundaries, she is helddown by the will of others, despite what she wants. In todays worlddivorce, sadly, is most commonplace, but in her time she would have beenan outcast of her society. By the end of The Awakening, Edna feels l ike apossession - of her husband, of her children, and of her society. The onlysolution she sees is to end her life, which she does by liquid out intothe sea until her strength gives out. This is a very symbolic death. I feel the theme of The Awakening is deeper than the obvious themes ofindependence and womens rights. The Awakening presents suicide as a validsolution to problems that do not offer many choices.