The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Title
Originally titled The Solitary Soul
Began writing the novel in 1897, finished it in 1898, published in 1899
Was considered a controversial novel
Called trite, morbid, sordid, and vulgar by different people
Setting 1890’s in Grand Isle
Genre Literary Fiction, Tragedy, Romance
Historical Information
New Orleans during this time
Strong racial divide
Creoles (mix of Spanish and French blood)
Canal Street was the divide separating the
Above or west- uptown
Below or east- downtown, French quarter
Gender roles and racial discrimination also played a role
Themes
Identity: Edna faces an identity crisis throughout the book, especially in he role as a wife and mother. She struggles with her identity because
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This realization is what inspires her decision to rebel against society’s standards for her.
The sea also symbolizes Edna’s love, at first soft and sensuous, but ultimately causes her death
Character Development
Edna starts the novel a devoted wife who is concerned with pleasing her husband along with keeping up appearances. As she falls in love with Robert, she is more aware of her sexuality and decides she rather please herself, than her family. So she abandons her wifely and motherly duties to pursue this relationship by moving out and refusing to raise her children. She then continued to pursue Robert but did not want to marry him because she doesn’t want him to own her. Her headstrong ways continue throughout the novel but she realizes she cant handle the isolation and ends up killing herself.
Leonce starts the novel as a man content with his marriage, family, and reputation. But as his wife’s action change, he is forced to change his focus from going to work and hanging around to fixing his wife’s actions.
Plot
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This angers her because she believes no man can own her in this way but as she is explaining that to him, she is called away to help Madame Ratignolle’s delivery, and when she returns Robert is gone and a goodbye note is left on the