American Values In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

American Values in The Awakening Imagine yourself being trapped in a life that you don’t want, you’re trying to get out of, and you are being judged by everyone around you. For Edna Pontellier, this is her reality. In her attempt to free herself from her suffocating life, Edna and the other characters in the book display their own personal American ideas and values in The Awakening. More than anything else, Edna Pontellier values the ideas of passionate love, and having the freedom to do what she wants. Her marriage to Léonce Pontellier is exactly what she didn’t want. The marriage was very emotionally constricting to her, it lacked the passion and romance that she desired. This is because Léonce was either spending his time at work, with his friends gambling, or shopping for more things they didn’t need. But, also because Léonce treated Edna like a piece of his personal property, and almost as she was a child that couldn’t take care of itself. For example, early in the book she returned from the beach sunburnt and he looked at her “as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage” (Chopin …show more content…
Just as Edna, she values her freedom, and being able what to do what she wants; which would explain why she never got married. Edna looks up to Mademoiselle Reisz because of her independence, free-spirit, and their shared interests in the arts. She often gives Edna advice ranging from Edna’s love life to her artist aspirations. Later in the book, Mademoiselle Reisz gives Edna advice on becoming a true artist. “To be an artist includes much; one must possess many gifts- absolute gifts- which have not been acquired by one’s own effort. And, moreover, to succeed the artist must poses the courageous soul” (Chopin 120). This advice is another component to what helped jump-start her personal