Edna Pontellier's Role In The Awakening

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” — Ginsburg, 2009. Kate Chopin is an American author born on February 8, 1851 at St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Chopin is famous for her brave movement by writing novels, stories and critiques mainly about feminism. Her works showed women wanting their freedom in a society which had specific roles assigned to them. In 1899, Kate Chopin published her work that was originally named A Solitary Soul but changed to The Awakening. The novel “The Awakening” written by Kate Chopin (1899) is mainly about a devoted housewife who wants to be free from her role in the 1800’s. Edna Pontellier is a 28 year old woman married to Léonce Pontellier

During their vacation, she met a woman named Madame Adèle Ratignolle, a fellow vacationer, an open woman who is not afraid to express herself — this caused her awakening. Edna is amazed at her. Edna’s “awakening” made her realize that she should not just stay as a devoted housewife and only be dependent on her husband for their entire life. That’s when she met Robert, the owner of their vacation home’s son. They would spend their time together without malice, but as time went by, she began to resent her “devoted wife” role. As their summer vacation ended, the married couple grew apart. On the other side, Robert noticed that their relationship was not for good and went to Mexico but still promised Edna that he would still write letters to her. The Pontellier family returned to their home in New Orleans, Edna continues to do her role and starts to develop her painting skills. She would still get in contact with Madame Ratignole and Robert’s mother, Madame Reisz and often make a visit and read the letters from

She moved out of their house and went to the nearby rental house. She then began to sell her painting to have money.— When Edna moved out of their house and started to sell her painting to have money, it shows that women can be independent without anyone’s help, she can stand on her own, without her husband Léonce. The novel successfully tackled the controversial topic regarding the unequal gender roles and reclaiming independence. Yet, the story has gone to the point where Edna starts to forget that she is a mother of 2 boys. She began to live independently, continued to despise her family and found a better young man for her to be with and start a new life again. Unlike other wives in the 1800’s who chose to be a devoted housewife, serving only their husbands and children, Edna Pontellier chose to break the tradition by being independent and voiced her feelings. Instead of going with the tradition, she chose to be free from the expectations and began to live independently. In conclusion, the novel is an eye-opener to every woman who is still stuck in the tradition of only staying home, doing house chores, and letting themselves be manhandled, for the reason that it suggests them to be more voiced out and open with their feelings to be able to express their opinions and