THE AWAKENING

1850-1904

Kate Chopin 1

Historical Reference

Kate Chopin wrote primarily about things she

was familiar with: life in the South and

French-American culture.

In “The Awakening”, Kate incorporated both

of those elements, and also the idea that a

woman could be a separate entity from her

husband. Her idea that a woman’s needs were

important was somewhat radical. Women

were not considered to be independent, and

women’s rights were still being fought for.

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Overview

Well-established as a national writer

Published in 1899

It was labeled by critics as too controversial

and received unfavorable reviews. The novel’s

subject matter was deemed morbid, vulgar, and

disagreeable, shocking and immoral.

• Chopin’s fiction was mostly forgotten after her

death until scholars and readers set in motion

a Kate Chopin revival in the 1950’s

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Genre

Bildungsroman-novel of intellectual, spiritual or moral evolution

Kunstlerroman-novel of artistic realization or development); shares elements of and is heavily influenced by the local color genre

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Plot

It is the story of a young woman’s gradual awakening

Sexuality

Individual "being"

Longing for an independence

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Early Example Modernism Literature

She was very important as one of the earliest examples of modernism American Literature though she was strictly not in that specific time of literature

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Romantic Elements

Exotic locale

Use of color

Heavy emphasis on nature

Romantic theme: individuality and freedom

Rebellion against society and death

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Edna-two extremes in life

Completely alone = romanticism

• and

Frequent inner thoughts

Memories of childhood

Personified sea (nature)

Mysterious woman in black

Romantic music, dinner party

Desire to express herself

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Naturalism

Edna as hostage to her biology

She is female (children & wife)

Society dictates behavior

“No attempt to suppress her impulses"

Welfare of her children

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Historical Reference

Kate Chopin wrote primarily about things she

was familiar with: life in the South and

French-American culture.

Historical Reference

In “The Awakening”, Kate incorporated both

of those elements, and also the idea that a

woman could be a separate entity from her

husband. Her idea that a woman’s needs were

important was somewhat radical. Women

were not considered to be independent, and

women’s rights were still being fought for.

Style

Chopin interested in how one tells the story as the story itself.

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Perspective

Perspective – multiple (Anonymous: at times it appears to be Chopin's viewpoint and voice coming through)

Point of view: 3rd person narrative but clearly in support of Edna and what she is trying to achieve. Mostly objectively written but occasionally reveals support for the plight of women at the time.

Setting (time): Novel set in 1899, the Industrial Revolution and feminist movements were beginning to emerge but were still majorly overshadowed by prevailing attitudes at the time.

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Theme

No true beauty without complexity or conflict

Life, Consciousness, and Existence

Identity, Women and Femininity

Society and Class

Repression

Marriage

Love

Family

Respect and Reputation

Art and Culture

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Local Color & The Awakening

Characterizations of the people

Descriptions of places

Fundamental meaning of the story

Creole society and its social mores, women making choices that create a life

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Appearance in Reality

Seen in the New Orleans experience

Things are not always what they seem

Things are different to different players.

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Style is Formed

Theme based

Her stories were very short

She was experimenting with style

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Women’s Rights

Chopin: was not a feminist nor a suffragist

Took women extremely seriously

Due to her background (mother …)

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Lack of Interest in Feminism

Suffrage: she simply had a different understanding of freedom.

Freedom = “character of living your life within the constraints that the world makes [or] your God offers you, because all of us do live within constraints.”

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Religion

Influence of Catholicism

She promoted the idea that every human person could be excellent and valuable

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Cultural Perspective 21

Creole

16th Century-

Creole- which came from the Latin word crear, meaning create. From that time, and approximately the next 250 years, Creole (or criollo) referred to not a color or race, but a person that was born in the New World.

Creole: is a ‘white person descended from the French or Spanish settlers of Louisiana and the Gulf States and preserving their characteristic speech and culture.’ . .

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Culture

Father was dominant his word was law

Not always a faithful spouse

Ruled like a king

Dutiful in the sense he went places with his wife

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Three Groups

1. Whites - highest class

2. Free Blacks - emancipated slaves middle class

3. Slaves household property the lowest class

They had a complex social organization which included foreign groups: Germans, Irish, and Spaniards.

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Social Classes

Black vs. White

Rich vs. Poor

Male vs. Female

Comfortable with difference as it is part of life

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Young Men

Given their own quarters

Entertainment for themselves

Had mistresses (Black or mulatto couldn’t marry them)

Accepted custom marriages = business

Wives = passive and ‘innocent’ lovers

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Young Women

Needed a dowry

Marry before 25 years old

“Coming out” event (theater)

Beginning search for a husband

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Other Customs

Weddings on Mon. or Tues.

Bouquet = relative’s grave

The family signed the register

Bride’s home for the banquet

Bride cuts the cake (pieces to single girls)

Cake put under their pillows

Bride and groom spent their honeymoon in her parents’ house (bedroom = 5+)

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Three Kinds of French

Traditional French

Acadian

Black Creole

Louisiana natives = francophone

French-speaking

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Characters

1. Edna Pontellier: Main character who awakens to a new life as

she discovers her independence. She is often characterized as

ennui.

2. Leonce Pontellier: Edna’s wealthy, old fashioned husband.

Shows frustration towards her if she behaves outside societal

norms

3. Robert Lebrun: Younger man whom Edna falls in love with and

vice versa

4. Adele Ratignolle: the epitome of what a woman is expected to be

during this time as a wife and mother of five

5. Mademoiselle Reisz: an eccentric pianist who is a close friend of

Robert Lebrun. She is the opposite of Madame Ratignolle. She

is independent, carefree and single with no children.

6. Alcee Arobin: a young gambling, womanizing businessman who

seduces Edna.

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Ennui

Origin: French

Pronunciation: /ɑn wi, ɑnwi; Fr. ɑ̃nwi/ Show Spelled [ahn-

wee, ahn-wee; Fr. ahn-nwee]

Definition (noun) having too much time on one's hands and too little will to find something productive to do; a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction.

Example: The endless lecture produced an unbearable

ennui.

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