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Justify the tittle of kate chopin's novel the Awakening
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When we first meet Edna, she is living a luxurious lifestyle where her husband provides for her. She is viewed as a
It is common for people in everyday society to conform to society’s expectations while also questioning their true desires. In the novel, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, the main protagonist Edna Pontellier is said to possess, "That outward existence which conforms, the inward life that questions." In other words, Edna outwardly conforms while questioning inwardly. Kate Chopin, uses this tension between outward conformity and inward questioning to build the meaning of the novel by examining Edna’s role as a wife, mother, and as nontraditional woman in the traditional Victorian period. Edna outwardly conforms to society’s expectations by marriage.
This is repeated throughout the relationship between him and Edna even though there may be true feelings involved his intention was to rely on the traditional Creole expectations in order to be “gifted” Edna from Leonce. This is against Edna’s desire for independence and to not be considered a possession by the man she is with.
“If you love something you must set it free, and if it returns then it was meant to be”. This quote is fewer or more words demonstrates the beauty in releasing something for the greater good, which is exactly what took place in the story “The Awakening”. In the story “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin the author uses symbols and motifs through her main character, Edna, to illuminate her feelings and define her actions. In “The Awakening” the author uses her main character Edna to illuminate independence and coming to her personal realization or “an awakening”, through the use of motifs.
Kate Chopin’s novella The Awakening is about the young Edna Pontellier and her struggle with fitting into her role as a wife and a mother. During a vacation at La Grand Isle she meets Robert Lebrun, who is the man she later throws her love upon. Her newfound love and her growing desire to be independent from all aspects of society drives her further and further away from her husband and children, and the lengths she is willing to go to for her freedom expands dramatically. Robert Lebrun and Edna both have secret growing feelings for each other that they are unable to fulfill when they start developing, but when Edna has finally separated herself enough from her family to attempt a life with Robert, he is unwilling to follow her dream. All through
The ocean, and by extension swimming, serve to symbolize liberation and the pursuit of that thereof. Edna grew up as a respectable woman in Kentucky, a landlocked state with no land connection to the ocean. After settling into marriage with Léonce Pontellier, she moves out to coastal Louisiana and spends summers out in Grand Isle, surrounded by ocean. Grand Isle is where Edna meets Robert, and where she experiences her awakening. While there, Edna begins learning to swim, and as she learns to control the water she in turn discovers that she has agency over her own body.
“And to hide, even from herself as she would have hidden from another, the emotion which was troubling tearing her,” (Pg. 45) it becomes clear that Edna is experiencing an emotion that was never experienced and her sexual emotions stir within her, forcing a tear upon her cheek Through her experience with Robert, Edna learned to keep her emotional distance from men, in case she be hurt again. Another man comes into the life of Edna and completes the other half of her sexual awakening. Alcee Arobin notorious at being involved with many women, provides the catalytic path for
In nearly every person's life, there is an ongoing struggle between the satisfaction of fulfilling one's requirements set by society and the burning desire to live a life independent of restrictions, obstacles, and confinements. While many claim for this to be a temporary struggle, one that is attached to a specific stage of life, specifically adolescence, that is not the case. This internal struggle is one that begins in the early stages of childhood and can extend into adulthood. However, for some, especially in more restrictive societies, this struggle may not even commence until adulthood. In The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, many argue that Mrs. Pontellier's suicide is symbolic of her urge to break free of societal norms and her failure to
Chapters 1-5 Kate Chopin reveals characters using third person omniscient. She describes the character's behavior, thought , dialogue and actions. She uses a combination of external and internal events involving that particular character. One character that is described through both external and internal factors would be Mr. Pontellier.
If it were not for the vacationing at Grand Isle, Edna would not have the ocean to empower her. The setting of the sea taught Edna to gain control.
“Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o Principessa, nella tua fredda stanza, guardi le stelle che tremano…” (Puccini Lines 1-5).” These famous opening lyrics from the great opera Turandot made by Giacomo Puccini speak to all of us in some way, shape or form.
Throughout the novel Edna imagined this perfect life with Robert filled with impetuous passion. Though Robert loved Edna, he decided to leave for Mexico to avoid a morally wrong relationship with her. Even after returning to Louisiana, Robert abandons Edna a second time only leaving a note stating “I love you. Good-by—because I love you” (Chopin 198). The reality of Edna’s relationship with Robert would never meet her expectations due to her legal connection to Leonce.
In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, the author utilizes the third person omniscient point of view. While the story begins by illustrating many of the character’s actions, it progressively begins to focus on Edna. The first two chapters display a general overview of several characters, describing the behaviors of Léonce, Edna, and Robert. The majority of the first chapter discusses Léonce’s actions.
Edna’s realization is that she is not a typical woman. She has specific wants and needs for herself that will be impossible to be met if she continues with the lifestyle she is currently living. She knows she can not support Leonce or their children in the ways society feels she should, so she decides mutually with Leonce to move out of the family house and live on her own… away from the kids, and away from Leonce. It is a time that she will really get to try to figure herself out. While she is away she starts experimenting sexually, not only with other men, but even with other women.
In Chopin’s The Awakening, symbols are extremely prevalent as a form of conveying a message or driving a point. The use of a symbol allows for individual interpretation which is important for this novel seeing as different understandings of Edna Pontellier’s actions do occur. More specifically, the symbol concerning the ocean and Edna learning to swim within it is significant for readers. This symbol is one which signifies momentous occasions for Edna such as improvements to her lifestyle or major self-realizations.
