The AwakeningbyKate Chopin

In A NutshellThe Awakeningis a novel by American novelistKate Chopinabout a womans transformation from an obedient, traditional wife and mother into a self-realized, sexually liberated and independent woman. Despite the books place in the current literary canon (its now a classic), whenThe Awakeningwas published in 1899 it received awful reviews. While reviewers acknowledged Chopins masterful literary technique, they were absolutely shocked with the protagonists independence and sexual liberation. This makes sense when you consider that women were not fully considered people at this time: Louisiana law still held that wives were the property of their husbands. Not surprisingly,The Awakeningwas "re-discovered" in the early 1970s (right around Second Wave feminism) and is now celebrated as a masterful insight into the mores of late nineteenth century society.Why Should I Care?Nowadays, Edna would be an artist you know, paint always under her fingernails. Shed dig smocked dresses and the skinny jeans trend. Not to mention sexual liberation. But inThe Awakening, Edna drowns. And that, more than anything else, tells you why you should care.Victoriansociety never gave Edna a real shot at personal fulfillment. Edna wants to be human, which, lets face it, who doesnt?

But what does it mean to be human anyway? Most obviously for Edna, it meansnotbeing Mr. Pontelliers possession. So being human equals not being an object. For Edna at least, being human means the right to independence regardless of societal restrictions.

Obviously, the notion of the individual versus society has lived on until this day. Even though our society may be more accepting than Ednas, individual choices frequently come into conflict with societal expectations. For instance, maybe you really want to be a stay-at-home dad, but everyone else in your life disagrees. Or you want to work as a photographer instead of as a lawyer. Edna would say: go for it.SummaryHow It All Goes DownWhen the book opens, Edna Pontellier is an obedient wife and mother vacationing atGrand Islewith her family. While there, however, Edna become close to a young man named Robert Lebrun. Before they act on their mutual romantic interest in each other, Robert leaves for Mexico. Edna is lonely without his companionship, but shortly after her return toNew Orleans(where she usually lives with her family), she picks up the male equivalent of a mistress. Although she does not love Alcee Arobin, he awakens various sexual passions within her.

Concurrent to Ednas sexual awakening is her determination for independence. Instead of spending her days concerned with household matters, Edna pursues her interest in painting. Rather than depending financially on her husband, Edna moves into a house of her own. By the time Robert returns, professing his love for Edna and his desire to someday marry her, Edna can no longer handle societal strictures particularly marriage. Without finishing the conversation about their future, Robert leaves Edna. Heartbroken, she returns to Grand Isle. Once there, she swims far out to sea and presumably drowns.ThemesIdentityThe Awakeningis largely about an identity crisis. Dissatisfied with her labels as "wife" and "mother," Edna Pontellier seeks an independence that is hard to come by for Victorian women. The "awakening" that Edna experiences is the awakening of her true self her real humanity that had lain dormant under a socialized exterior. The unleashing of the Inner Edna in the face of societal convention constitutes the main thrust of the novel.Women and FemininityThe restrictions and expectations imposed on Edna Pontellier inThe Awakeningare based purely on her gender. The societal structure of the Victorian Era decreed that a woman was fit to be only a wife and mother, but Edna has other ambitions: artistic, financial, and sexual freedom. In seeking her own identity, Edna necessarily runs counter to her societys notions of womanhood.MarriageInThe Awakening, marriage is a huge barrier to happiness and individual fulfillment because the archetypical marriage had an "I Tarzan, you Jane" dynamic. At the start of the novel, Edna is barely conscious of her habit of simply acquiescing to her husbands orders, but as the book progresses, she begins to disobey his commands and make her own decisions about how to spend her time and energy. Furthermore, by the end of the book that Edna is so disillusioned by the whole institution of marriage that she doesnt even want to marry the man that she truly loves.LoveInThe Awakening, love is a fantasy. Its used in jest by the Creole community (Robert Lebrun in particular), and we also know that Edna has a history of infatuations that culminate in a crush on the aforementioned Robert. This time, however, Robert swears its real. But after they declare their love for each other, reality sets in. They have different priorities: he wants marriage, she wants freedom. This novel really doesnt fall for the whole "true love" shtick.

Society and ClassThe Awakeningfeatures that age-old conflict between the individual and society. Is it more important to conform or to be yourself? Our protagonist Edna views herself as a super-fabulous individual, but society has a different take on the matter.RepressionRepression plays out subtly inThe Awakening, as the open, "free-speaking" Creoles who are partly responsible for Ednas awakening (artistically, sexually, etc.) turn out to be all talk and no walk. At the end of the day, the Creoles really do expect husbands and wives to be faithful to one another. They limit their scandalous behavior to flirtatious talk and "dirty" novels. Restraint is the name of the game here. In contrast, Edna, who begins the novel as very repressed, learns the talk and then walks the walk.Art and CultureInThe Awakening, producing real art requires holding a position outside the societal mainstream. The lives of the two artists we see inThe Awakening, Mademoiselle Reisz and Edna Pontellier, suggest that art requires a singular devotion that is impossible to have if also married.The Awakeningthus paints a conflict between the pursuit of art and acceptance by society. Mademoiselle Reisz and Edna are both willing to pay the price to be real artists.FamilyInThe Awakening, Edna Pontellier challenges her role as a mother while Adele Ratignolle fulfills it to a tee. Motherhood is not a dynamic or fluid concept inThe Awakening, but rather a static, idealized image that all women should aspire to. This image functions as an ideal while at the same time holding women to an impossible standard. Edna refuses to play this game as she considers her children to be perfectly secure and happy without involvement on her part.Respect and ReputationInThe Awakening, the main characters live in a society obsessed with reputation. Mr. Pontellier in particular carries this obsession out to unhealthy ends he becomes more concerned about his reputation than about his marriage, and is willing to put good money on it. To have a good reputation inThe Awakening, however, is not necessarily viewed as being synonymous with having a good character.Life, Consciousness, and ExistenceIn Kate Chopins day, ideas about the human psyche (including the subconscious) were just beginning to gain momentum. Regardless of whether Chopin was intentionally integrating these concepts intoThe Awakening, issues of the subconscious are definitely present in the novel as we see Edna come to terms with deeper layers of her identity. We see her acting on impulses she doesnt understand and feeling depressed when she denies these impulses. Moreover, we can also see Ednas "awakening" as the awakening of her true inner self that has been operating below the level of her conscious mind.AnalysisBirdsSymbolism, Imagery, AllegorySeveral types of birds appear repeatedly inThe Awakening. Well break it down for you.The parrot and the mockingbirdAt the start of the book, the parrot shrieks and swears at Mr. Pontellier. Now, well take a wild guess and say that the parrot represents Edna or, more specifically, that it gives voice to Ednas unspoken feelings. Also, its in a cage, which is a form of literal imprisonment that highlights Ednas figurative imprisonment.

The mockingbird, also caged, likely represents Mademoiselle Reisz with its odd markings and the whistling notes it produces. Moreover, we learn at the start of the novel that the mockingbird is perhaps the only one whos capable of understanding the parrots Spanish. Its a stretch, but by the end of the novel, Mademoiselle Reisz is the only one capable of understanding Edna.

Caged birds in general are representative of women during the Victorian Era, who expected by society to have no other role besides that of wife and mother. Its reasonable to think of the women as living out their lives in gilded cages present for decoration, given every comfort, and banned from any real freedom.Mademoiselle Reiszs commentShe says to Edna that "the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings." In other words, you need courage to defy society.Bird with the broken wingAs Edna is about to walk into the ocean, she sees "a bird with a broken wing . . . beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling, disabled, down, down to the water." This bird could represent Ednas failure to find freedom her failure to "soar above the plain of tradition." The bird has a broken wing, yet Mademoiselle Reisz said it would need to have strong wings. Similarly, Edna clearly lacks those strong wings as she drowns in the sea.

Another interpretation is that Ednas plunge into the water is a defiant rejection of Victorian womanhood and that the bird represents the destruction of that irksome ideal.

The SeaSymbolism, Imagery, AllegoryOn one hand the sea is a symbol of empowerment inThe Awakening. In the sea, Edna learns to swim (and, by extension, learns that she does in fact have control over her own body). The sea also functions as a lover. Chopin writes: "The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace."

On the other hand, Edna drowns in the sea.

How are we supposed to read this apparent contradiction? Did Edna get (figuratively) too drunk off of empowerment and die? Or is this a deliberately circular choice by Edna, as in, she wanted her life to end where it truly began?CigarsSymbolism, Imagery, AllegoryCigars appear over and over inThe Awakeningas a symbol of masculinity and traditional manhood. Victorian women were not allowed to smoke at all, and certainly not cigars. Interestingly, Kate Chopin herself defied this restriction by smoking often in public. She was ostracized for her behavior.SettingWhere It All Goes DownGrand Isle and New Orleans during the late nineteenth centuryThe temporal setting is important because of the restrictive society in which Edna lives. Ednas story wouldnt make much sense if it took place in a society where divorce is possible, or artistry is supported regardless of gender.

As for the importance of setting the story in the Bayou State, the Creole lifestyle plays a key part in awakening Edna to the joys of being open and passionate. Even more importantly, Ednas vacation at Grand Isle is also a key part of her awakening. Her constant dips into the ocean awaken Edna in a very physical way (and not just sexually). In clich terms, swimming empowers Edna. The sea teaches her to gain control of her movements and of her body, rendering it harder for her to obey when Mr. Pontellier acts like he owns her body.Narrator:Who is the narrator, can she or he read minds, and, more importantly, can we trust her or him?Third Person (Omniscient)What is going on with the narration? Often it seems completely objective: "They formed a congenial group sitting there that summer afternoon." Other times it focuses in on Ednas thoughts: "Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her." (Theres no way a narrator pretending to be a fly on the wall would know that.) What takes this text from third person limited to third person omniscient, however, are the scenes where Edna isnotpresent.

Lets take a closer look at the scenes lacking Edna: the opening scene with Mr. Pontellier (and the parrot), the scene where Adele warns Robert to stay away from Edna, the scene where Mr. Pontellier seeks medical advice, and the last chapter with Victor and Mariequitas points of view. The non-Edna scenes show us the ways in which Edna is discussed/viewed by those close to her. This third person omniscient business, in other words, helps us understand Edna. In the opening pages of the novel, Mr. Pontellier views Edna as his property. During Adeles conversation with Robert, we see that Adele views Edna as a traditional woman who will take flirtation seriously. The last two non-Edna scenes, however, show us that Ednas behavior has become incomprehensible to those around her. Mr. Pontellier is convinced shes mentally unbalanced, and Victor and Mariequita are confused by her sudden appearance at Grand Isle and subsequent insistence on going for a swim.GenreLiterary Fiction, TragedyLets put it this way: Edna doesnt get a happy ending. At the closing of the novel, she either drowns from exhaustion or she dies intentionally. As for the whole "literary fiction" component ofThe Awakening, the entire novel focuses on chronicling Ednas psychological journey rather than relating exciting plot details.ToneTake a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?Somber, serious, and solemnChopin wroteThe Awakeningin fairly formal prose that conveys a certain sense of gravity to the story. This seriousness is exacerbated by the novels point of view the third person omniscient point of view tends to be much more distant than, say, first person.Writing StyleControlled, Perceptive, ConciseFrom the first page ofThe Awakening, Kate Chopin establishes her stylistic control over her words; she follows the formal rules of grammar. Her sentences are sharp and exact, and her word choice is always precise. Heres a typical Chopin paragraph this one comes right at the end of Chapter One:

Coming back to dinner? his wife called after him. He halted a moment and shrugged his shoulders. He felt in his breast-pocket; there was a ten-dollar bill there. He did not know; perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. It all depended upon the company which he found over at Kleins and the size of the game. He did not say this, but she understood it, and laughed, nodding good-by to him.

Chopin alternates between being very specific and somewhat vague in her narration; for instance, she may use several paragraphs to describe one object or one specific moment, or she may use one short sentence to sum up a lengthy, complicated event. We can assume, since we know Chopins a master stylist, that she gives lots of details in order to emphasize an event or an objects underlying importance, and that she quickly summarizes the insignificant stuff so we dont waste much time thinking about it.Whats Up With the Title?"The Awakening" is a phrase which symbolically describes what happens to the main character, Edna Pontellier, as she becomes an aware and conscious human being in the course of this book. What is she conscious of? Mostly the fact that her life has been constrained by her role in her family, and that theres more to Edna than wife and mother extraordinaire.Whats Up With the Ending?Talk about mixed signals. The ending ofThe Awakeningtakes the reader on an emotional roller coaster.As the last chapter begins, there is little sign that Edna intends anything more than some solitary time at Grand Isle. Sure, it's the off-season, and no one's around, but she seems pleasant and chatty with the people she sees. She even asks Victor Lebrun for some dinner and to set up a place for her to spend the night. That's not exactly the kind of behavior we expect from someone who is about to commit suicide.Finally, Edna pops on down to the seashore, and takes off her bathing suit. "How strange and awful it seemed to stand naked under the sky! How delicious!" the novel comments. "She felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world that it had never known."This exhilarating gesture of freedomstanding naked on a beachis compared to a birth, but words such as "strange" and "awful" hint to the reader that something more than naked time is going on here.As Edna swims out to sea, she becomes overwhelmed by the elements. "[It] was too late," the novel tells us, "her strength was gone." Without coming out and saying it explicitly, the novel strongly suggests that Edna dies.So, Edna dies, but does she do so intentionally? Does she commit suicide or is it the accidental death of an inexperienced, overwhelmed swimmer?It depends on what you think is going on in Edna's mind as she swims out to sea. Here are two options:Edna does not intend to commit suicide.Instead, she embraces, a little too enthusiastically, Mademoiselle Reisz's feeling that the artist needs the "courageous soul that dares and defies," lines she remembers as she swims out.She wants to push herself, do something extreme, in much the same way that people bungee jump or skydive for kicks. By flouting social convention and starting up life as a sexually and artistically independent woman, she has already experienced a kind of social death. To the rest of society, she no longer exists because she doesn't conform to any social roles, like wife or mother.This "death" has enabled her rebirth into the free woman she now is. The physical death she experiences at sea is really just a shadow of the first social death. Her swimming out to sea is her final gesture of defiance at the world, the final assertion of her individual spirit. It's just that she gets carried awayliterally, out to sea.Edna does intend to commit suicide.The childhood memory that dominates the last scene is a memory that returns from the first part of the novel. It's a memory that includes the mysterious cavalry officer who was her first romantic obsession.This romantic obsession is placed next to some parting words from Robert: "He did not know; he did not understand. He would never understand," Edna thinks. Edna commits suicide because she realizes that there is no place in this world for a woman who asserts her erotic needs and her independence from society.So what do you think? Was it intentional or not? Or would you rather revel in the ambiguity?