The Awakening

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The novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin takes place in the early 1920's on the Grand Isles of Louisiana. The Grand Isles is a resort for the wealthy. The theme of this novel is about a woman named Edna who awakens to a new life as she discovers her independence. In the novel Edna also "awakens" to her love for Robert Leburn and most importantly she awakens to the knowledge that her husband is not in control of her life. Edna and Mr. Pontellier's relationship begins to get worse after he leaves for his business trip to New York. There are two stages of Edna and Mr. Pontellier's relationship, one of which is before Mr. Pontellier's trip to New York and the other is after he leaves.

During the 1920's it was expected of the women to "render home happiness, to show interest in her husband's concerns," and to "never let their husband have cause to complain that she is more agreeable abroad than at home" (Chopin 122). On the other hand, Edna and Mr. Pontellier's relationship did not quite resemble that expectation. For example, at the beginning of the novel Mr. Pontellier comes home to his sleeping wife after an excellent night at Klein's hotel in hopes of receiving attention. Unfortunately he found it "very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him and valued so little his conversation" (7). In other words, Mr. Pontellier expects Edna to awaken to listen to his grand night at Klein's hotel. Edna shows no interest and continues sleeping. Mr. Pontellier proceeds to tell her that the boys had fevers and needed her immediate attention. Of course this is false; Mr. Pontellier's goal is to get her attention in some way. Because this ongoing game is no...

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... from the demanding relationship with her husband. As the novel progresses, Edna's desire for Robert Leburn grows and eventually increases her need to do as she pleases. Also the mix of depression and new found independence influenced Edna to move into a new home and to never let herself be someone's possession again. Edna is a new woman that is going to live the rest of her life not answering to a man. That is why the relationship between Mr. Pontellier and Edna contributed greatly to the theme of the novel. It is Edna's marriage with her husband that contributed to her unhappiness and ultimately lead to her death.

Work Cited

Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. Ed. Margo Culley. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1994.

Chopin, Kate. "An Etiquette/Advice Book Sampler." The Awakening. Ed. Margo Culley.

New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1994. 122-23.

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