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Edna Pontellier's Suicide In The Awakening

1294 Words6 Pages

In “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin, the protagonist Edna Pontellier’s devastating suicide at the end of the novel has caused many differences in opinions throughout readers. On one hand, some view her suicide as a failure to be free from social expectations, particularly without a man with her she loses her motivation and ultimately dies due to the social expectations placed on her. On the other hand, however, her suicide is interpreted as a final awakening (book name), a final decision to be free and fully claim her individuality and autonomy rather than adhere to what she is expected to be, act, and think like. In this essay, I will analyze each of these interpretations and show how while both have great qualities, Edna's suicide is ultimately an act of bravery in the face of social constraints …show more content…

This exacerbates her feelings of isolation and loneliness since no matter how much Edna started to express herself and focus more on her individuality there were always continuous barriers that held her back. Societal expectations played a large role in limiting Edna's true self. The people around her assume stereotypical social expectations, along with expecting them from others, which ultimately affects Edna's relationship with her kids, husband, daily tasks, herself, and ultimately how to be a mother. Edna was also raised alongside these social expectations, while growing up she knew what she wanted but was unable to express this given her parents and others surrounding her. They did not feel the same desire to have their own identities separate from the people around them, but this was the opposite of Edna. In this interpretation, Edna’s suicide was ultimately her rejecting social expectations that held her back from being her true self and expressing her wants, wishes, and

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