The Awakening Literary Analysis

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Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening, resembles the time period of the late nineteenth century where women are constrained to being house wives because of the norms in society in that time. So, during this time it was prevalent for women to lack independence or even freedom to that matter. In this novel the protagonist faces the reality of confinement to being that ideal woman. Edna Pontellier, a young woman, feels disconsolate because of her unhappy marriage and being a mother because it restricts her from her desires. However, throughout the novel Edna experiences awakenings and trials causing her to gain courage and try to change her life which makes her seem rebellious to the creole society. Chopin uses many symbols throughout the book to …show more content…

Although, she is married her marriage is very unstable. Her life has an absence of love and comfort she wants. Chopin says, “The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering , clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation,” (Chopin 17). In this quote, Chopin gives the sea personal qualities portraying it to be flirtatious, in a way, and inviting Edna to lose herself in it. Chopin continues to say, “The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace” (17). The sea is is representative of that significant other Edna is craving for and it can be seen she has a strong attraction for. She starts to realize her sexual need and begin to embrace them. Embracing this new feeling and confidence she is able to accept that she wants to find love. She is able to find this love through one of the characters named Robert lebrun and the narrator says, “The sentiment which she entertained for Robert in no way resembled that which she felt for her husband, or had ever felt, or ever expected to feel” (55). Edna expresses her sexual desires are starting to portray her more and she feels something new which she thoroughly enjoys, Eventually, Edna begins to explore and find herself more which then leads her to find more connections with the

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