The Awakening Literary Analysis

In the novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin, love exposes the true identities of characters Robert and Edna, revealing their underlying natures in which even they may not be aware. Chapter 36 serves as a prime example, including instances of confession and decision motivated by the power of love. This power has a wide variation of effects on the characters, bringing out the strong and defiant side in Edna, while showcasing Robert’s weak toleration for pressing society’s limits. Edna’s complete transformation to independency is portrayed through her male-dominant actions, and the differences between the characters of Robert and Edna are established, confirming the reality that their relationship will never work. Unfortunately, only Robert manages

The feeling of Robert and Edna’s kiss was unlike any of which either of them had ever felt before, rather “the action was full of love and tenderness” (145). For the first time in their lives, both characters experience the sensation of real love with no lurking intentions of business for one’s own personal benefit. In their standard Creole society, this feeling is a rarity and lacking in importance compared to the limitless opportunities to raise social and economic power through marital status. Because of the sole fact that Robert and Edna could never be together, the feeling of love was exaggerated even further, enabling a fantasy where they coexist with one another to form. Robert admits to Edna that he had “a wild dream of your some way becoming my wife” (145). While to Robert this proposition is no more than simply a crazy dream considering the strict boundaries of society, Edna believes that there is a chance of possibility. Living out of touch from reality covered by clever excuses made by Leonce, Edna is unable to foresee the repercussions that her imaginations may have. To Edna, being with Robert is an actual possibility, a premise based off of her obvious disconnection from society and newfound independence from her previous

Discovering her emotions and recognizing the repression in which women endure all their life, Edna makes the decision to be a free human being with ownership to no one. Edna boldly declares to Robert that she is “no longer one of Mr. Pontellier’s possessions to dispose of or not” (146), expressing her choice to be an influential person rather than simply a prize of Mr. Pontelliers. With the importance of materialistic images in the Creole society, Edna choosing to be a person rather than a possession that Leonce bought and paid for is viewed as an action deemed unwomanly and inappropriate. While throughout the novel Edna commits actions that relay the theme of independence, Chapter 36 is the first time when Edna affirms that she believes herself to be a single woman. Edna chooses to throw away her husband, children, and every material item she has in return for her own independence and voice in the world. Unfathomable to the Creole society, Edna, being a woman, feels that she should be treated equally to men without the notion of being labeled inappropriate and offensive. A negative connotation is given to women who are classified as unwomanly during this time, and Edna recognizes this implication. When telling Robert how she feels, Edna states that, “I suppose this is what you would call unwomanly; but I have got into a habit of expressing myself” (143). It is completely