When The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, was first published, many critics bashed on the book because it was filled with sexual desires of a woman and this was not the social norm for a women to behave. Chopin showed a lot of courage when she decided to publish this book to fight for women’s equality by showing society how they feel and their roles. Although we saw Edna sexually driven to many different men in the book, one example was her love for Robert. Robert left Edna because he loves her, he left her. Robert knows that he can’t be with Edna because it will ruin her reputation in society as a woman. Shown in this quote, “her senses kindled afresh in thinking of Robert’s words, the pressure of his arms, and the feeling of his lips upon her own…. She hoped he would be asleep that she might arouse him with her caresses”(172), Edna has enormous feelings for Robert. Edna loves the way Robert touches her and treats her. Despite the fact that Edna is already married and have two kids. Edna was also sexual attracted to Alcee. Although Robert was her true love, Alcee satisfies Edna’s physical urges. When Alcee came over a night, Edna and Alcee talked and got closer …show more content…
At first it might seem Edna does not care about her children, but in reality, Edna cares about her children, even if she has to sacrifice her life. But she won’t give up herself as a person. Mr. Pontellier was angry at his wife for not doing what she is suppose to do as a wife. Edna said the her husband, “I feel like painting….Perhaps I shan’t always feel like it”(108). By choosing to paint, Edna breaks her role as a housekeeper which frees her from being trapped by her husband. She feels a sense of