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

The waking up as a point of Independence and Freedom Kate Chopins The Awakening is a work of fiction that tells the invoice ofEdna Pontellier, Southern wife and m separate. This earmark presents the readerwith many tough questions and few answers. It is not hard to imagine whythis book was banished for decades not large after its initial publicationin 1899. At that time in history, women did just what they were expected todo. They were expected to be hefty daughters, good wives, and good mothers.A woman was expected to move from the shelter 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 nomenclature that define The Awakening, I dont want anything neverthelessmy own way. That is wanting a good deal, of course, when you turn out totrample upon the lives, the hearts, the prejudices of others - but nomatter_ As the book begins, Edna is a marrie d woman who seems vaguely satisfiedwith her life. However, she cannot find square(a) happiness. Her awakeningbegins when a persistent young man named Robert begins courting her. Ednabegins to do 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 hitch 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 will 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, scorn what she wants. In todays worlddivorce, sadly, is almost commonplace, but in her time she would have beenan outcast of her society. By the end o f The Awakening, Edna feels like apossession - of her husband, of her children, and of her society. The onlysolution she sees is to end her life, which she does by swimming out intothe sea until her specialization 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 legitimatesolution to problems that do not offer many choices.