There are several major themes that can be explored in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, many of which also relate to the societal ideas set forth in the time period of the novel. One of the themes present in this novel is repression. Repression can be defined as “the restraint, prevention, or inhibition of a feeling, quality, or idea.” The repression (or lack thereof) of feelings, thoughts, and desires can be seen throughout the novel in all of Edna’s relationships with the major characters. The morals of the time period as well as the other characters’ reception of these accepted ideals can explain Edna’s interactions and relationships. The Awakening is set in 1899 in the Creole society of Louisiana, where many new notions such as feminism were …show more content…
This can be seen in Chopin’s novel The Awakening when the ladies of the Grand Isle gather to gossip about their personal lives and discuss topics such as love, sex, and other desires. Edna’s discovery of her own repressed feelings begins with her interactions with these women on the Grand Isle. They were all very outspoken and frank about their lives, experiences, and opinions, but only with other women on the Isle. This was acceptable in their society, as long as it occurred behind closed doors. The candidness of these women’s conversations surprised Edna at first, but she soon grew to find it liberating that she could face her emotions and sexuality directly.
One of these women, Adele Ratignolle, becomes the first step to showing Edna how to openly display her emotions instead of repressing them. Adele spends her days caring for her children, performing her domestic duties, and ensuring the happiness of her husband. She is the epitome of the expected wife and mother of the time period, and she is comfortably happy in her own life. Their conversations remind Edna of the dreams of her youth, and Edna slowly begins to expose the desires that had been bottled up for so many years. Adele becomes a shoulder to cry on, so to speak, and Edna confides in her