Summary
“The Awakening” by Kate Chopin is an insightful fictional novel about a young woman of the 18th century who is “awakening” to the world around her. Succinctly, it is about a woman’s transformation from an obedient, traditional wife and mother into a self-realized, sexually liberated and independent woman. In general, it is about how self discovery and personal fulfillment does not always coincide with society’s ruthless expectations.
Edna Pontellier is a twenty-eight year old married woman (married to Leonce Pontellier) who has two boys. The exposition of the novel begins as Edna, her husband, and her children vacation on a New Orleans beach. While there, Edna become close to a young man named Robert Lebrun. Before they act on their mutual romantic interest in each other, Robert leaves for Mexico. Edna is lonely without his companionship, but shortly after her return to New Orleans (where she usually lives with her family), she picks up the male equivalent of a mistress. Although she does not love Alcee Arobin, he awakens various sexual passions within her. This sexual awakening is not the only one the undergoes.
The very first “awakening” she experiences is through Madame Reisz’s passionate piano performances of Chopin. Next is her physical “awakening” and liberation by learning to swim by herself in the ocean for the very first time. Through those three outlets, sexual, emotional, and physical, Edna transforms into an entirely different woman, one who is resolute in making her own decisions. One of her first independent decisions is to move out of her husband’s house and into her own, thereby relinquishing her past as his “possession” and becoming her own person, subject to herself only.
During this time, Edna’s emotional contours are wreaking havoc on her life, as are opinions of other socialites and friends. When Robert returns from Mexico, his resulting apologies prove too much for Edna to handle as she realizes to be her own person, she will need to be by herself; not even Robert is willing to transcend social convention to consummate his love for her. As a resolution, Edna returns to the Grand Isle, where everything started, and swims out to sea, presumably committing suicide by drowning. This novel offers insight into Edna’s many transitions between different views on life and attractions.
Edna Pontellier is a twenty-eight year old married woman (married to Leonce Pontellier) who has two boys. The exposition of the novel begins as Edna, her husband, and her children vacation on a New Orleans beach. While there, Edna become close to a young man named Robert Lebrun. Before they act on their mutual romantic interest in each other, Robert leaves for Mexico. Edna is lonely without his companionship, but shortly after her return to New Orleans (where she usually lives with her family), she picks up the male equivalent of a mistress. Although she does not love Alcee Arobin, he awakens various sexual passions within her. This sexual awakening is not the only one the undergoes.
The very first “awakening” she experiences is through Madame Reisz’s passionate piano performances of Chopin. Next is her physical “awakening” and liberation by learning to swim by herself in the ocean for the very first time. Through those three outlets, sexual, emotional, and physical, Edna transforms into an entirely different woman, one who is resolute in making her own decisions. One of her first independent decisions is to move out of her husband’s house and into her own, thereby relinquishing her past as his “possession” and becoming her own person, subject to herself only.
During this time, Edna’s emotional contours are wreaking havoc on her life, as are opinions of other socialites and friends. When Robert returns from Mexico, his resulting apologies prove too much for Edna to handle as she realizes to be her own person, she will need to be by herself; not even Robert is willing to transcend social convention to consummate his love for her. As a resolution, Edna returns to the Grand Isle, where everything started, and swims out to sea, presumably committing suicide by drowning. This novel offers insight into Edna’s many transitions between different views on life and attractions.