Essay How Edna Indulges In Social Norms In The Awakening

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The Awakening

The Awakening, by Kate Chopin was a novel wrote in the 1800’s that demonstrates the theme independence. In the novel, Edna Pontellier seeks to discover herself by many obstacles. The novel Awakening Edna slowly begins to slowly awaken when she begins to discover her impulse for independence. Her decision on seeking independence, made her do whatever it is she wanted. In the following paragraph’s, I will discuss how Edna indulges in social norms as she seeks her independence. In Kate Chopin, The Awakening Edna Ponteiller is a married women whose life is pretty simple. She has a big house, maids, money, Kids, husband, and friends but she begins to realize …show more content…

After moving on into her own place and seeing whomever she likes, whenever she wants. She discovered she may be able to be with the one she loves. Realizing Robert, her love isn’t coming back. Edna sets off to swim in the sea. She swims so far out and becomes so exhausted she dies at sea. Edna begins to experience many emotions that she doesn’t realize she is begging to feel her own independent ideas. This begins at her trip in Grand Ilse’s. Edna and Madame Ratignolle take a walk to the beach, as they sit and have a conversation amongst one another, Edna lays her head down on Madame’s lap. Madame Ratigonelle states “It’s muddled her like wine, or like a first breath of freedom” (Chopin, PG. 1267). Kate Chopin writes on page 1284 that Edna was seeing different eyes and making new dissuasions for herself. Which is a new beginning and began to change Edna’s environment, But Edna doesn’t suspect that she is gaining independence. Edna seems to begin to be resentful towards her husband. While, discovering her independence. One night Edna and her husband were having dinner when Mr. Pontellier ask Edna were she gone all day. Edna replies “Nothing. I simply felt like going out, and I Went out” (Chopin, Pg. 1293). Women in this time didn’t do this when leaving the house they better have a suitable explanation for …show more content…

In Kate Chopin The Awakening, on page 1277, Mr. Pontellier demands Edna to go inside and sleep. Edna replies back she is not going inside and to never speak to her like that Lanz 3 again. After Edna having an outburst with her husband “She began to do as she liked and feel as she liked” (Chopin, Pg. 1297).She stop going home for her every Tuesday dinner with Mr.Pontellier, stopped seeing visitors and didn’t attend to her normal house duties as a wife and mother. Edna is focusing on herself and what makes her an independent person. Edna realizes her Independence as “There were days when she was happy without knowing why. She was happy to be alive and breathing, when her whole being seemed to be one sunlight, the color, the odors, the luxuriant warmth of some southern day. She discovered many a sunny, sleepy corner, fashioned to dream in. And she found it good to dream and to be alone and unmolested” (Chopin, Pg.

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