Kate ChopinKate O'Flaherty
*February 8, 1850-St. Louis, Missouri-Eliza and Thomas O'Flaherty
*1855-Enters St. Louis Academy of the Sacred Heart
*1861-Confirmed in the Catholic Church by Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick
*1863-death of grand mother and half-brother, George
*1867-poems, essays, sketches, criticismsKate O’Flaherty
*1868-graduated from Sacred Heart Academy
*1869-1870- “Emancipation: A Life Fable”
*1870-Married Oscar Chopin and moved to New Orleans
Kate O’Flaherty
*1871-1878-Jean, Oscar Charles, George, Frederick, and Felix
*1879-moved to Coulterville
*1882 -Oscar dies of malaria, leaving Kate with a heavy debt and six young boys
*1883-1884-tried to run Oscar’s business
*1885-death of her mother; Dr. KolbenheyerKate Chopin
*1888-read Maupassant and wrote “Euphrase”
*1889- “If it Might Be”
* 1890-1892-Joins the Wednesday Club, founded by Charlotte Stearns Eliot
* 1891 -writes "Mrs. Mobry's Reason" and "A Shameful Affair”Kate Chopin
* 1894 -Writes "A Respectable Woman" (Vogue) in January, introducing the character of Gouvernail, who reappears in The Awakening
*1897-1898 –wrote “The Awakening”
*1899 The Awakening published by Herbert S. Stone and Company on April 22
*1901 -wrote and published only one story, "The Wood-Choppers."Kate Chopin
*1902 -published her last story, "Polly“
*1904-Died from a cerebral hemorrhage on August 22, after collapsing at the World's Fair
Kate Chopin
Left: KC’s Grave; Right: KC’s Statue
The AwakeningOriginally entitled as “The Solitary
Soul”Deals about a woman’s transformation
from an obedient, traditional wife and mother into a self-realized, sexually liberated and independent woman
Louisiana law still held that wives were the property of their husbands
Feminism
THE AWAKENING
Date written - 1899Point of View – Third Person Omniscient
Genre – TragedyWriting Style – Controlled, perceptive, concise
THE CHARACTERS
Edna Pontellier (Presbyterian)◦She got a husband and two lovers◦Cannot married the other man she loves because of finding marriage too constricting
◦trying to become a human being the best way she knows how
Robert Lebrun◦handsome, charming, and seems to have
fallen in love with Edna Pontellier◦Robert leaves the country for Mexico,
where he plans to make his fortune and declares their love upon his return
Leonce Pontellier◦A “perfect” husband◦he acts like Edna is his property◦Not Edna’s first kiss :D
Adelle Ratignolle◦Edna’s close friend and almost complete
opposite◦represents the ideal that Edna is
supposed to imitate◦her character started chain reaction in
Edna’s life
Mademoiselle Reisz◦A pianist and an odd “creature” in the
society◦Responsible for keeping Edna’s love for
Robert alive
Alcee Arobin◦introduces Edna to various physical pleasures
◦Has a playboy reputation
Doctor Mandelet◦Family physician
Victor Lebrun◦Robert’s younger brother
The Two Lovers◦Remain faceless and nameless◦Always appear in conjunction with the lady in black
The Lady in Black◦Vacationer at the Grand Isle◦Follows the young lovers around with patient, resigned solitude
Additional CharactersEtienne and RaoulBeaudeletMariequitaMonsieur RatignolleMonsieur FarivalMrs. HighcampMr. and Mrs. MerrimanMiss Mayblunt and Mr. Gouvernail
SETTING
Grand Isle and New Orleans during the
late nineteenth century
Chapter 1The novel opens on Grand Isle, a
summer retreat for the wealthy French Creoles of New Orleans
The parrot repeats phrases in English and French while the mockingbird sings persistently
Léonce smokes a cigar and watches as his wife, Edna, strolls toward him from the beach, accompanied by the young Robert Lebrun, Mrs. Lebrun’s son
Chapter 2
Robert and Edna talk without pause, discussing the sights and people around them
Robert: Plan to find his luck in Mexico
Edna: Her childhood in Kentucky and her sister’s upcoming wedding
Chapter 3Léonce is in great spirits when he returns from playing billiards late that evening
Edna experiences an unfamiliar oppression
The next morning, Léonce departs for a week-long business trip. Before he leaves, he gives Edna some spending money and says good-bye to the small crowd that has gathered to see him off.
Chapter 4Léonce cannot explain why he always feels dissatisfied with Edna’s treatment of their sons, but he perceives a difference between his wife and the other women on Grand Isle
Edna’s friend Adèle Ratignolle, who embodies all the grace and charm of a romantic heroine, is the prime example of the mother-woman
Chapter 5As Robert sits with Edna and Adèle by the shore, he tells Edna of his days as Adèle’s attendant
Although Robert devotes himself to a different woman every summer, his playful attentions to Edna differ from his treatments of past women
Edna declines Robert’s suggestion that they go for a swim
Chapter 6
She is slowly beginning to think of herself as an individual with a relationship to the outer world, and the sound of the sea draws her soul to “inward contemplation” and wisdom that are disturbing in their newness and depth.
Chapter 7Throughout the summer at Grand Isle, her
reserve gradually erodes because of her increasingly close friendship with the candid Adèle
“Sometimes I feel this summer as if I were walking through the green meadow again; idly, aimlessly, unthinking and unguided.” -Edna
The relationships that most absorbed Edna were her intense, unrequited crushes on men
She considers herself “uneven and impulsive” in her affections for her children
Chapter 8After Edna’s confession of her former
passions, Adèle worries that Edna might take Robert’s attentions seriously and warns him to let her alone.
Adèle reminds him that if he were indeed to court married women with any seriousness, then he would ruin his reputation as a trusted gentleman
Robert launches into stories of a well-known seducer, Alcée Arobin
Chapter 9A few weeks after Adèle’s conversation with Robert, Madame Lebrun and her renters hold a Saturday-night celebration to entertain their weekend guests
Edna’s response to Adele and Mademoiselle Reisz’s piano piece
Robert suggests that the party go for a nighttime swim.
Chapter 10As the crowd makes its way from the party down to the beach, Edna wonders why Robert has distanced himself from her
Despite the attempts of the other guests to teach her, she is still unable to swim
Robert runs after Edna as she makes her way home, and she asks if he thought she was afraid to walk home alone.
Chapter 11
Léonce returns and urges Edna to go to bed, but she tells him not to wait for her—she will stay outside in the hammock
Chapter 12Edna wakes up after a few hours of restless sleep
The two lovers and the lady in black, are on their way to the wharf to take the boat to the isle of Chênière Caminada for Sunday mass
Edna and Robert together
Chapter 13In the middle of the church service, Edna feels drowsy and troubled
Edna takes a rest on the cottage of Madame Antoine
They rest together under a tree, listening to the Antoine’s stories until the sun has set and they must return home.
Chapter 14When Edna returns, Adèle reports that
Edna’s younger son, Etienne, has refused to go to bed
Léonce was worried when Edna did not return from the Chênière after mass, but once he was assured that Edna was merely resting at Madame Antoine’s and that Madame Antoine’s son would see her home, he left for the club on business
“Ah! Si tu savais . . .”
Chapter 15One evening at dinner, several people
inform Edna that Robert is leaving for Mexico that evening
Mrs. Lebrun sends a message requesting that Edna sit with her until Robert leaves, but Edna replies that she doesn’t feel well and wants to stay in
Robert himself then visits Edna and bids her good-bye and is unable to say when he will return
Chapter 16Edna is constantly possessed by
thoughts of Robert.Edna’s jealousyWhen Edna learns that Léonce saw
Robert in New Orleans before his departure for Mexico, she questions him extensively about their meeting
Mademoiselle Reisz gives her Mrs. Lebrun’s address in New Orleans
Chapter 17Léonce takes great pride in his
possessions and enjoys walking around his lavishly decorated New Orleans home and examining his household goods
She replies that she was not at home to receive visitors, nor did she leave the servants with an excuse with which they might placate her guests
She throws her wedding ring to the floor and tries unsuccessfully to crush it.
Chapter 18The next morning Edna declines
Léonce’s request that she meet him in town and instead tries to work on some sketches.
Edna informs her friend that she wants to take drawing lessons and presents her portfolio, seeking praise and encouragement in the matter
She pities Adèle’s “colorless existence” and “blind contentment”
Chapter 19Léonce, severely displeased by Edna’s
refusal to submit to his demands, scolds his wife for spending her days painting instead of caring for the “comfort of her family.”
Léonce sometimes speculates that Edna suffers from some mental disturbance, and he leaves Edna alone to paint and sing Robert’s song to herself as she dreams of the sea and Grand Isle
Chapter 20Edna visits Madame Lebrun in search
of Mademoiselle Reisz’s new addressEdna is depressed to hear that Robert
enclosed no message for herShe asks about Mademoiselle Reisz,
and Madame Lebrun gives her the pianist’s new address
“Some way she doesn’t seem like the same woman.” –Victor Lebrun
Chapter 21Mademoiselle mentions nonchalantly that Robert has sent her a letter from Mexico, in which he has written almost entirely about Edna
She mentioned that Robert requested to play for Edna “That Impromptu of Chopin’s”
Edna as an artist“Isolde’s song”
Chapter 22Léonce expresses his concern about
Edna to Doctor Mandelet“She’s got some sort of notion in her
head concerning the eternal rights of women.” - Leonce
“A wedding is one of the most lamentable spectacles on earth.” - Edna
Suspecting a secret affair
Chapter 23Edna decides to sketch her father in
her studioThe Colonel takes Edna’s painting very
seriously, posing patiently for her sketches
“We wouldn’t have anything to say to each other.” –Edna
Chit-chat “I hope to heaven it isn’t Alcée
Arobin.”- Dr. Mandalet
Chapter 24Argument about Janet’s weddingColonel criticizes Leonce’s lack of control and authority over Edna
Edna suddenly changed her attitude towards Leonce
She find “radiant peace” on the absence of her husband
Chapter 25The initial restfulness and ease Edna feels
after the departure of her family quickly dissipates
One day, Alcée Arobin and Mrs. Highcamp, whom Edna had run into recently while at the races with her father, call on her to accompany them to the track
A few days later Alcée and Edna attend the races alone
Infidelity towards Robert
Chapter 26Alcée writes Edna an elaborate letter
of apologyEdna plans to rent a small house
around the corner, which she will pay for with her winnings from the racetrack and the profits from her sketches
As usual, Mademoiselle Reisz gives Edna Robert’s latest letter
Real feelings
Chapter 27“The bird that attempts to fly above tradition and prejudice must have strong wings, or it will “fall back to earth, battered and bruised” - Mademoiselle Reisz
Edna’s FIRST KISS :*
Chapter 28After Alcée leaves, Edna weeps
The thought of Robert and of her love for him, growing ever “quicker, fiercer” and “more overpowering” that affects her
Her kiss with Alcee was not motivated by love
Chapter 29Moving to the pigeon houseEdna in her old dress and kerchiefAlcee begs to see her sooner, and she scolds him but laughs as she does so, looking at him “with eyes that at once gave him the courage to wait and made it torture to wait.”
Chapter 30The dinner Edna hosts in celebration of her new home is small and exclusive
In her magnificent gown, Edna seems a woman who “rules, who looks on, who stands alone.”
Someone begs Victor to sing and he accepts dramatically, looking at Edna and beginning, “Ah! Si tu savais!”
Chapter 31
Alcée stays with Edna after everyone has left and assists her as she shuts up the big house. He accompanies her to the pigeon house, which he has filled with flowers as a surprise. He tells her he will leave, but when he feels her beginning to respond to his caresses he sits beside her and covers her shoulders with kisses until she becomes “supple to his gentle, seductive entreaties.”
Chapter 32
Léonce writes a letter of stern disapproval in response to Edna’s move
In her husband’s continued absence, Edna feels her sense of individuality and spirituality growing
Chapter 33
Adele confesses to Edna that she worries about the impulsive and reckless nature of her actions, adding that perhaps she should not be living alone in the little house
Seeing RobertAlcee’s photograph
Chapter 34After they have eaten, they sit in the parlor, and Edna questions Robert about the young Mexican girl whose gift of a tobacco pouch has become the topic of discussion
Robert ---Edna--- Alcee
Chapter 35
“She had abandoned herself to Fate and awaited the consequences with indifference.”
She awakes each morning in a state of hope and expectation, but retires each evening in despair
Edna and Alcee
Chapter 36One day Edna bumps into Robert in her
favorite garden café, which is nestled in the suburbs of New Orleans
She emphasizes that she is not afraid to share her opinions, however “unwomanly” he may think them. He responds by accusing her of cruelty, of wishing him to “bare a wound for the pleasure of looking at it, without the intention or power of healing it.”
Chapter 37
Edna begins to feel uneasy as memories of her own childbirth experiences surface but seem removed, vague, and undefined
“Think of the children, Edna. Oh think of the children!” – Adele
Chapter 38
A talk with Dr. MandeletShe begins to say that no one has any right to oblige her to do what she does not wish, excepting, perhaps, children
“Good-by—because I love you,” – Robert Lebrun
Chapter 39
“Bonding” with Victor and Mariequita
The night before, Edna realized EVERYTHING
Edna committed suicide by drowning herself into the sea, naked
PLOT ANALYSISExposition
◦Edna is stuck in a loveless marriage
Conflict◦Robert Lebrun came into the scene
Complication◦Robert was awakened that he was in a wrong affair; Edna became independent
PLOT ANALYSIS
Climax◦Edna and Robert met again
Denouement◦Robert left Edna forever
Conclusion◦Edna drowns into the sea
SYMBOLISMS
Edna Pontellier◦Typifies an individual who is afraid to express himself because of the criticisms and judgments he might received from society
◦Symbolizes unstable mind; pleasure
SYMBOLISMS
Grand Isle◦The quest in finding Edna’s real self and identity
SYMBOLISMSBirds
◦The parrot (Edna) and the mocking bird (Mademoiselle Reisz)
◦“The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings.“
- Mademoiselle Reisz
◦Bird with the broken wing
SYMBOLISMSSea
◦Empowerment◦Lover “"The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.“
◦Ending her life where it truly began
SYMBOLISMS
Music of the piano◦Edna’s unconscious thoughts, desires, and feelings
SYMBOLISMS
The Two Lovers◦Edna and Leonce◦Edna and Robert◦Edna and Alcee◦Young love accepted by society
SYMBOLISMS
The Black Lady
“Love does not always last forever.”
THEMESSolitude as a Consequence of
Independence
Edna realizes that independent ideas cannot always translate
into a simultaneously self-sufficient and socially acceptable existence.
THEMESSelf- expression
◦Once her Creole friends show her that it is okay to speak and think about one’s own feelings, Edna begins to acknowledge, name, define, and articulate her emotions.
◦Artwork
THEMESFreedom
◦Withdraws from social obligations that are important to her husband
◦Moves to “pigeon house.”◦Ventures out on her own and discovers people and places she would have previously ignored
THEMESFree will
◦Her choice to remain in a relationship with Léonce would result in her continuing dissatisfaction with life
◦No matter what choices she makes, Edna can never be totally free within the confines of the society in which she lives.
ThemesSex
◦The choices Edna makes in her life result, largely, from her rediscovery of sexual pleasure
◦Her unfulfilled love for Robert and her loveless affair with Alcée demonstrate to her that love and sex are entirely separate entities
Themes
Public vs. Private Lives◦The public is not ready to embrace the private Edna, and Edna is unwilling to yield to public sentiment
Themes
Repression
*will be discussed further in
Psychoanalytic Approach*
END OF PART 1
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