Emily Kolk

The Awakening MWDS

Title: The Awakening Author: Kate Chopin Date of publication: 1899 Genre: Novella

Biographical information about the author:

 Catherine (Kate) O'Flaherty was born in  Chopin became a widow at the age of 32

St. Louis, Missouri in 1850. She is when Oscar died of malaria. She never

notorious for setting most of her stories in remarried.

St. Louis due to her family history there.  In 1904, Chopin fell into unconsciousness

 As a young girl, she spent time around after a day in the heat and passed away at

female family members. the age of 54. Her doctor believes she

 Chopin married her husband Oscar Chopin suffered from cerebral hemorrhage.

in 1870. They moved to New Orleans  "Biography." KateChopin.org. Kate

where they had 6 children. Chopin International Society, 01 May

2011. Web. 1 May 2011.

Historical information:

 Creole society in the South was very prominent; they saw themselves as a separate French-

Spanish culture.

 As is characteristic of the Victorian era, men dominated the home and women bore children and

did household chores. This was all that they were expected to do.

 If women had time, they often participated in hobbies such as music and art. First priority was

always the family, though.

Characteristics of this genre:

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 A novella is a short fictional work written in prose. It’s somewhere in-between a novel and a

short story. Novellas have fewer conflicts than novels (they have less time to develop them due

to the shorter length), but more than a short story.

 "Novella." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia

Britannica, 2011. Web. 01 May. 2011. 

Plot Summary:

Edna Pontellier is vacationing in Grand Isle with her husband Leonce and her two small

children in the late 1800s. The family is spending their vacation with fellow wealthy Creoles from

the French Quarter. Edna is becoming increasingly unhappy with her absentee husband who is more

concerned with his business affairs than the state of his marriage. Edna’s closest friend from the

vacation cottage is Adele Ratignolle. She is the epitome of what a Victorian woman is supposed to

be: feminine, womanly and motherly. Edna also befriends Robert Lebrun. They’re casual at first, but

this progresses into a more intimate bond. These two relationships begin Edna’s “awakening”. Edna

begins to feel like she is alive again and begins to do things for herself, like painting and learning to

swim. As the relationship grows, so does Edna’s discontent with her current life and marriage and

her personal awakening only furthers.

Robert is scared off by the intensity of his relationship and leaves town. Shortly afterwards,

Edna returns home. She continues to seek out her independence by abandoning her womanly duties

in order to further her painting. Leonce is dismayed by this change, but lets it “run its course” after a

family friend advises him to do so. He leaves for a business trip and Edna is left alone to bask in her

freedom. She reacts by moving out of the house and into her own; it is here that she recognizes her

sexual needs and begins an affair with Alcee Arobin, the town’s infamous womanizer. However, this

affair is solely physical and Edna remains infatuated with Robert.

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Edna also contacts a woman from the vacation spot. Mademoiselle Reisz and Edna

become very good friends. Reisz is a role model for Edna; she is older, unmarried and

artistic. Reisz also remains in contact with Robert who constantly writes her about his

feelings of love towards Edna. He cannot bear to be away from Edna any longer and returns

to confess his love for her. However, Robert cannot give into his feelings for her. He sees her

as the possession of another man and she is not his to have. Edna leaves to visit Adele as she

is going through labor. Adele warns Edna of this affair and reminds her to put the children

first. Edna begins to feel guilty for her actions. She returns home to find a goodbye letter

from Robert and she recognizes that she cannot truly escape the expectations of society. She

returns to Grand Isle and appears to be in a state of solitude and acceptance. She stands at the

edge of the water, strips naked and enters, leaving the reader to assume she has killed herself

by drowning in the ocean.

Describe the author’s style:

"'You are burnt beyond recognition,' he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of

personal property which has suffered some damage. She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands,

and surveyed them critically, drawing up her fawn sleeves above the wrists” ( ).

 Detailed language creates a strong image of Edna.

 Repetition of hands puts emphasis on them (as novella progresses, hands gain greater

importance because they are her most important art tools).

 Simile shows the typical Victorian relationship between husband and wife.

Memorable quotes and significance:

Quote 1: “It was easy to know [the mother-women] fluttering about with extended, protecting wings

when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. They were women who idolized

their children, worshiped their husbands…” (19) .

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 Bird imagery: The idea of birds were used prominently throughout the novella to signify both

opression and freedom. Here, they are being used to show the potential of freedom and the

opression that society and family life places on women.

Quote 2: "The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clearing, murmuring, inviting

the soul to wander for a spell in the abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward

contemplation.” (300)

 Significance of water: This quote establishes the importance that the ocean and water play in the

novella. The language used in this quote makes it an undeniably seductive force that has the

ability to take control of a person. Water represents the freedom that Edna finds in her life after

she experiences her awakening.

Quote 3: “I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my

children; but I wouldn't give myself.” (122)

 Identity: Edna has finally begun to place herself above all others. This is a radical idea at the

time; Victorian women were taught to always put family first and would never think of

themselves as important people. This quote shows how Edna finally sees that her identity is the

only essential thing in life.

Quote 4: “It sometimes entered Mr. Pontellier's mind to wonder if his wife were not growing a little

unbalanced mentally” (147).

 Expectations of women: Because Edna had a change in personality and was suddenly exploring

her newfound passions, Leonce instantly assumes she is mentally unstable. This shows the strict

conventions that women must follow in order to be socially acceptable by society. Any other type

of behavior is instantly unacceptable. For Leonce and all other men at the time, it is

unfathomable that a woman would want to have an identity other than a mother and a wife.
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Quote 5: “She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out,

where no woman had swum before” (70).

 Characterization: Edna at times appears not to be able to handle her new sense of individuality.

This is an example of how she becomes reckless and impulsive when she feels a small amount of

freedom in the water. It’s important to recognize this impulsive nature she possesses to have

greater insight into her actions throughout the novella.

Characters:

Edna Pontellier: Edna has children” (18). He abides by herself. “It was not the first time
finally found a sense of freedom rigid familial expectations. she had heard an artist [Mme.
and identity and is overwhelmed Robert Lebrun: He’s a total Reisz] at the piano” (33). Edna
by its power over her actions. loser and unfortunately breaks thinks the highest status a
“…She had lived her own small Edna’s heart. He is a product of person can reach is to be an
life all within herself.” She Victorian society, even though artist; she thinks very highly of
abandons this persona that she he represented freedom to Edna Mademoiselle. Adele
has always lived with to gain for most of the novella. "Do? Ratignolle: She embodies the
her independence. Nothing, except feel glad and perfect Victorian woman. She’s
Leonce Pontellier: He is a happy to be alive” (213). He has super pretty, takes good care of
textbook Victorian husband. He Edna thinking he’s the solution, her husband and is always
doesn’t understand Edna, but he but he represses Edna’s true popping out equally perfect
still loves her and their family. feelings just like everyone else. babies. She enjoys this feminine
“It would have been a difficult Mademoiselle Reisz: role. She does not develop
matter… to define to his own Represents a fully independent throughout the story
satisfaction… wherein his wife woman. She does what makes
failed in her duty toward their he happy and only answers to

Setting:

Grand Isle, Louisiana (Summer): As a explore her inner needs and passions (i.e.

vacation spot, this is where Edna finds painting, swimming, Robert, etc.). The fact

herself able to escape reality. It allows her to that it’s on the water has a lot of symbolic
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meaning. The ocean represents Edna’s same mail which brought to Edna his letter

freedom. “The voice of the sea speaks to the of disapproval carried instructions--the most

soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, minute instructions--to a well-known

enfolding the body in its soft, close architect concerning the remodeling of his

embrace” (300). home, changes which he had long

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana: contemplated…” (244). Shows the

This setting represents what real life society materialistic side of Edna’s reality… this is

is. It continues to repress Edna, but not for very different from the romanticized Grand

long: she is able to break free from its Isle.

impossible standards for the most part. “The

Symbols:

1. Ocean: Ocean represents Edna’s awakening and her freedom. Symbolizes the control this new

sense of freedom has over Edna and her actions (300).

2. Birds: Birds represent being repressed or caged. They also represent the ability of a person to

find a way to escape this, their potential to fly away from this caged life (19).

3. The color yellow: Yellow is often the color used to represent hope. At Edna’s dinner, she has

decorated the dining room in yellow, representing her hopefulness (227). A yellow bird also

appears in the novel.

Allusions:

"The foamy wavelets curled up to her white feet, and coiled like serpents about her ankles. She

walked out. The water was chill, but she walked on “ (301).

 Biblical allusion #1: Serpent alludes to the serpent from Adam and Eve. Represents finding

knowledge and becoming conscious of one’s actions.

 Biblical allusion #2: Water represents baptism throughout the novel. The water purifies Edna.
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Opening scene:

The novella opens up with a quiet scene. Mr. Pontellier is sitting and trying to read his newspaper.

He is described in careful detail and it is noted that he is easily disrupted and annoyed. The first time

Edna appears, she is regarded as his property and Leonce is upset that she is burnt and therefore,

damaged (3).

Closing scene:

Edna appears to be in a stoic state of solitude. She appears almost robotic; it is clear that she knows

what she is doing, although the reader is still unsure. While the scene is very peaceful, there is an

ominous tone; it seems like Edna has accepted her life for what it is. She stands in the water, letting

the waves crash at her feet. She finds her old bathing suit where she left it from the summer, but

flings it aside when she’s in front of the water again. She swims out into the rough waters, nude, and

it is assumed that she is swept up in the waves.

Syntax:

"The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clearing, murmuring, inviting the soul

to wander for a spell in the abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The

voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft,

close embrace” (300).

 Parallel structure: repetition of words ending in –ing. This gives the sentence movement and

allows the reader to create a more vivid picture of the ocean.

 Punctuation: The first sentence is long and flows freely due to the use of commas. This allows

the sentence to be lengthy but remain grammatically correct.

 Repetition of “s” sounds to create seductive tone.

Themes:
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1. Identity: Edna recognizes that she has lived her life without any sense of personal identity. After

realizing this, she begins to separate herself from her family to focus on herself. She recognizes

that she is not unessential (122). She also realizes that she can no longer live her life as a small

person with little significance.

2. Femininity: Edna struggles with her womanhood because it is so black and white in Victorian

society. She is expected to only want to be a mother and wife. Edna rejects this lifestyle and is

starkly contrasted by her friend Adele, the baby-making Barbie doll next door who is the epitome

of a perfect Victorian woman. What Edna wants is the exact opposite of what society wants.

3. Repression: Edna experiences a lot of taboo feelings. She wants to reject her family in order to

take care of herself; she embraces her sexuality; she looks for love instead of a stable marriage.

4. Self-love vs. selfishness: In Edna’s journey to find happiness, her motives are questioned. Her

journey to find her identity can be seen by some to be a selfish endeavor. This is seen in the

conversation between her and Adele (122). Following Adele’s childbirth, Edna begins to feel

guilty for her actions, blurring the line between self-love and selfishness.

5. Finding oneself in art: Art is represented as an escape from the negative side of society. It allows

Edna and Mademoiselle Reisz to express themselves in a time where doing so was frowned upon.

Still, they are able to do so in a positive way that others can appreciate to an extent. “She felt in it

a satisfaction of a kind which no other employment afforded her” (28). Art gave Edna a sense of

enjoyment, expression and freedom that little else could. Edna is so intent on finding herself that

she fixates on creating perfect art; nothing is perfect for her and she nitpicks her sketches. She

also puts Mme. Reisz on a pedestal, making her out to be god-like because she is so artistically

gifted.

Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. H.S. Stone & Co., 1899. Print.
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