Throughout The Awakening Kate Chopin contradicts the socially acceptable role that women are supposed to play in society. For the nineteenth century Chopin had very radical feminist views and her writing was considered very progressive at the time. While today we may not see it that way Chopin ventured into virtually unexplored literary modus operandi. Chopin addresses the underlying generalizations of women in religious, social, and cultural aspects through Edna the main character of the novella, as she uses her to break down traditional gender roles for women at this time while simultaneously propagating early feminist ideology. Edna was a rarity for the time. In the nineteenth century almost no women fought for themselves like we see her do …show more content…
She repeatedly goes against her husband’s wishes, ignores her children, and defies social expectations. At the beginning of the story we see her start to develop feelings for Robert and initially she is ashamed of these feelings. However, throughout the story she starts to develop these cravings, a sort of carnal appetite for sexual experiences, and eventually she starts to give into them. She kisses Alcee Arobin and then later also Robert. She realizes that she does not necessarily want to devote herself to her family and that she has other interest closer to hear such as her heart and passionate love affairs. Edna is described in the beginning of chapter four as not being a “mother-woman,” who “idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.” This was very atypical for women of both Creole and Kentucky descent, at the time women were supposed