In the novel “The Awakening” it follows the final months of the story 's protagonist Edna Pontellier. By the end of the story Edna ends her own life after what I believe was a failed attempt on her trying to ‘break’ her cultural boundaries. This is all before she goes on an adventure one summer in pursuit of breaking the chains society had put on her. Something that the reader can follow her on and understand why she did what she did that summer. This novel in my eyes was portraying what cultural boundaries can do to people and how far you can push them before you begin to feel the pressure on you . In my eyes it is also the story of the oppressed, people who could not say anything about how they felt, in this case that is Edna a married woman …show more content…
He defines culture in two different ways in one he claims culture as part of a “Technology of Control”. He goes on to explain his reasoning by saying people in today’s societies follow their cultural boundaries in fear of having consequences if they were not to follow them. He explains how the consequences would not be severe but little implements similar to being the ‘odd’ one in your society. In the other definition he explains how he believes culture can also be described as a “Particular Network of Negotiations”. If you obey you are rewarded if you do not then it would lead to you eventually being blamed by your society. This is where Edna Pontellier comes into …show more content…
But Edna did just this, she completely went against her cultural boundaries, breaking them throughout the whole book and there are innumerable pieces of evidence that supports this. Including having an affair with Robert. A different type of ‘crime’ was also committed, but this time no one actually knows about it except herself and the readers. Right before Edna ends her life she had just come home after her summer adventure with Robert. She decides to take a swim keep in mind it is the end of summer and it is now getting a bit cold, therefore nearly all readers have an idea about what is about to happen. She changes into her bathing suit leaving her clothes behind another entity that is used to foreshadow her death. She eventually gets to edge of the beach where the beach and water meet and removes her bathing suit. She was now nude on the beach and was headed to her death. Now she had broken two enormous cultural boundaries back then, one was cheating on her husband a man who she was supposed to obey her entire life and now was cƒompletely nude out in public. Something that even looks unacceptable in the eyes of a few people
The Awakening is a novel about the growth of a woman becoming her own person; in spite of the expectations society has for her. The book follows Edna Pontellier as she struggles to find her identity. Edna knows that she cannot be happy filling the role that society has created for her. She did not believe that she could break from this pattern because of the pressures of society. As a result she ends up taking her own life. However, readers should not sympathize with her for taking her own life.
Edna learning to swim while at Grand Isle is significant. At first, a certain ungovernable dread hung about her when she was in the water, unless there was a hand (presumably a man’s) near by that might reach out and reassure her.19 As she gains confidence, like a “little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who of a sudden realizes its powers”20 she swims farther out than she has before, though her husband is watching from the beach to reassure her when she admits she thought she might not make it back to land. It isn’t until after she returns to New Orleans that she becomes fully aware of herself and the hopeless situation she is in. She attempts independence, moving out of the family home and into a smaller one in a slightly worse part of town. She tries to nurture her artistic inclinations and beings an affair with a local playboy, but continues to be dissatisfied with life. Adele Ratignolle’s domestic bliss depresses her, and shortly after his return Robert quickly abandons her, supposedly with the best of intentions. Driven back to Grand Isle where her awakening began, “like some new-born creature,”21 Edna swims out to sea with no intention of returning. She admits to herself that one affair would lead to another, and she would eventually forget Robert.
Often in novels, a character faces conflicting directions of ambitions, desires, and influences. In such a novel, like “The Awakening,'; the main character, Edna Pontellier, faces these types of conflicting ideas. In a controversial era for women, Edna faces the conflict of living in oppression but desiring freedom. The patriarchal time period has influenced women to live only under the husband’s thumb but at the same time, break away from such repression. These opposing conflicts illuminated the meaning of “social awakening'; in the novel.
The Awakening by Kate Chopin introduces the reader to the life of Edna Pontellier, a woman with an independent nature searching for her true identity in a patriarchal society that expects women to be nothing more than devoted wives and nurturing mothers.
The Awakening is an emotionally unsatisfying story. It is the story of a women, Edna, who tries unsuccessfull...
Kate Chopin's The Awakening tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a young wife and mother living in the upper crust of New Orleans in the 1890s. It depicts her journey as her standing shifts from one of entrapment to one of empowerment. As the story begins, Edna is blessed with wealth and the pleasure of an affluent lifestyle. She is a woman of leisure, excepting only in social obligations. This endowment, however, is hindered greatly by her gender.
Kate Chopin's novella The Awakening tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman who throughout the novella tries to find herself. Edna begins the story in the role of the typical mother-woman distinctive of Creole society but as the novelette furthers so does the distance she puts between herself and society. Edna's search for independence and a way to stray from society's rules and ways of life is depicted through symbolism with birds, clothing, and Edna's process of learning to swim.
The Awakening sheds light on the desire among many women to be independent. Throughout the novel Edna conducts herself in a way that was disavowed by many and comes to the realization that her gender prevented her from pursuing what she believed would be an enjoyable life. As the story progresses Edna continues to trade her family obligations for her own personal pleasures. This behavior would not have been accepted and many even criticize the novel for even speaking about such activities. Kate Chopin essentially wrote about everything a women couldn’t do. Moreover, it also highlights the point that a man is able to do everything Edna did, but without the same
It tells the story of a woman named Edna Pontellier, who of which, goes on a journey to try to find her identity in the world. In doing so, Mrs. Pontellier has to deal with a “...marriage…” with a demanding husband and a hectic agenda of trying to keep watch of her two young “...children…” (“Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening””). Outside of balancing these stressful everyday occurrences, Edna tries to calm herself by trying to take advice from her friends Adele Ratignolle and Robert Lebrun. Thereupon, in talking with Ratignolle, Edna is told to give in to “...life’s delirium…” of doing of what is expected of her as a wife and a mother (94). Unlike that of Mrs. Pontellier’s predicament, Adele has given into that of their civilization’s ideal outlook of being a woman who has completely immersed herself in that of the wellbeing of her family and of nothing else. Appalled by this response, Edna labels it as being a “...colorless [and]...blind contentment…” and then goes on to describe Adele as being brainwashed (93). Moreover, when she talks to Robert she also does not get the guidance she so desperately needs, and/or seeks. While Robert is less affected by that of their society's social normality of only caring about family, he still does not comprehend of why Mrs. Pontellier would want to be “...independent...” when she has a high standing by being that of a “...married woman with children…” (“Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening””/36). Upset by the fact that neither Mrs. Ratignolle or Mr. Lebrun could comprehend her desire of wanting to find herself, and of not following the typical lifestyle women adopted, Edna becomes confused and frustrated. Consequently, because of these two emotions that she now bares, they become her downfall at the end of the
In one’s lifetime, he or she may face an internal struggle. Perhaps the struggle lies in a difficult choice between right and wrong. Perhaps it lies in a decision between want and need. Maybe one must contemplate how much his or her happiness is truly worth. Regardless, every person has internal conflict not easily solved. In The Awakening, Edna Pontellier struggles with two conflicting forces, expectations of her and her own desires, illuminating the meaning of the novella: defying societal expectations in order to seek individuality and independence is always just.
...tionship she had until she was left with literally no reason to live. Throughout the novella, she breaks social conventions, which damages her reputation and her relationships with her friends, husband, and children. Through Edna’s thoughts and actions, numerous gender issues and expectations are displayed within The Awakening because she serves as a direct representation of feminist ideals, social changes, and a revolution to come.
The Awakening was shocking to readers in 1899, and would be today if it were published in “Ladies Home Journal”. Even today, women are expected to sacrifice themselves, if not to their husbands, then definitely to their children. I find it interesting that Grand Isle is the setting for the beginning and end of the novel. The story is built around a circle and represents the whirling force that is the energy of Edna’s life. The circle reminds me of Yeats’ “The Second Coming” : “Turning and turning in the widening gyre/things fall apart/the center cannot hold.”
The novel “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman, who is held in chains by the social conventions common to the late nineteenth century, where the story takes place. One day Edna awakens out of the role given to her by society and begins to listen to her inner wishes and feelings which guide her to her “self”. From now on Edna developes to an independent and liberate young woman, who lives her life for herself, not for her husband and not for her children as it would have been expected of a woman out of this time. She gives up her old life to start a new one. It seems as if Edna closes every door behind her, so that there will not be a way back into her past life even if she wanted to take it.
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening takes place in the late 19th century, in Grande Isle off the coast of Louisiana. The author writes about the main character, Edna Pontellier, to express her empowering quality of life. Edna is a working housewife,and yearns for social freedom. On a quest of self discovery, Edna meets Madame Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz, falls in and out of love,and eventually ends up taking her own life. Kate Chopin’s The Awakening shows how the main character Edna Pontellier has been trapped for so many years and has no freedom, yet Edna finally “awakens” after so long to her own power and her ability to be free.
This story represents the lives of women back in the early 19th century. They were so closed in by societal norm and rules that many of them did not have the freedom to be who they wanted to be, or even live they life they wanted to live. The story “The Awakening” is a clear example of this scenario. Edna Pontellier did not have the courage to strength to face society so she felt like she had to die to find her freedom.