The Awakening By Kate Chopin

Antisocial Edna While being social and part of a community is incorporated in humanity, it is also enjoyable to spend some alone time away from distractions and reflect. This characteristic can be seen in The Awakening with the main protagonist Edna who gravitates toward privacy. Edna longs to be an independent, strong woman and associates this belief with being alone and on her own. Edna is often involved in activities with others where she chooses to seclude herself from the group. Kate Chopin accentuates this aspect of Edna through her actions, but especially through her relations with Robert. Her drawing towards seclusion is first seen on page 43 where she describes herself as being very fond of Madame Ratignolle’s piano playing. It says, “One piece which that lady played

Page 46 reads, “She would not join the groups in their sports and bouts, but intoxicated with her newly conquered power, she swam out alone” (Chopin). Here Edna is seen avoiding society and the grasp it holds on her by seeking out being on her own in the sea. This scene supports the correlation Chopin develops of solitude and liberty as it not necessarily Edna’s interactions with others, but actually her avoidance of such exchanges that allows her to feel set free. So does Edna take pleasure in anyone’s company? In fact, the only person Edna does enjoy being around, more than being alone, is Robert. For it says on page 62, “She wondered why Robert had gone away and left her…She regretted that he had gone” (Chopin). This raises the question, why is Robert the only person she enjoys more than solitude? It is possible that because Robert supports Edna so much, he gives her hope that her wishes can be fulfilled. Therefore, she benefits from his presence as she receives comfort, confidence, and a feeling of possible