Hailey Hudson 2 January, 2018 AP Lit and Comp Mrs. Schroder An Analysis of Alienation in The Awakening In Kate Chopin’s classic novella The Awakening, the development of Edna Pontellier serves to shine a light on the strict societal morals, values, and gender roles of the late 1800s. Edna is an outsider in nearly every sense of the word, and as the story progresses, she begins to accept this part of her and take her search for fulfillment to an entirely new level. The fallout from these actions, the rifts opened between her and those closest to her in life, ultimately proves too arduous, and leads to her death. Chopin explains to the reader at the very beginning of the novella that Edna has experience standing on the outside, even in subtle ways. For example, her whole life is submerged in Creole culture; however, she married into it, as opposed to being born into it like her friends, acquaintances, and husband. She herself has roots as a Protestant in Kentucky, making the switch to a life of Catholicism in Louisiana jarring. Despite being married to Leonce for a good while, and her efforts to familiarize herself with/ blend in to the Creole social environment, she still finds herself occasionally taken off guard at the mannerisms and behavior of her peers. Creole culture undoubtedly differs from the normal American social culture from the late 1800s. With many many French influences, the verbal and physical habits of those who identify as Creole may lean toward the