In the 19th century the main role of women was of a wife and mother. Women have been oppressed to a point where they were treated as possessions, objects, or as a completely different species. They were in a place that seemed to be in a dark tunnel with no hope, dreams, or sense of fulfillment. Free spirited Edna Pontellier shows her family and friends that women have their own birthrights, and they too are able to do everything males can do. At first she feels like a caged bird, then she learns to swim, and she finally feels born again swimming naked in the open sea. One theme in The Awakening by Kate Chopin is a struggle women have in expressing and find their freedom during the 19th century, the way that Chopin expresses entrapment and
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Chopin also shows us through Adele Ratignolle how Victorian women are like in the 19th century. Chopin says, Madame Ratignolle carries with her the materials for her to sew garments for her children as she visits with Mrs. Pontellier. Limiting the possibilities of other opportunities a Victorian woman could have than just being a wife and mother in a strict society. Chopin demonstrates the contradiction Edna has by saying, “Mrs. Pontellier’s mind was quite at rest concerning the present material needs of her children, and she could not see the use of anticipating and making winter night garments the subject of her summer meditations (13)”. In another instance, Edna’s journey of self expression is displayed when she and Adele go out for a walk to the beach. She wears a veil, gloves, and ruffles to cover her body. Women are restrained by society and the way Adele shows us is by what women wore in the Victorian era. Contradictory to Edna who wears considerably less amount of clothing and once at the beach Edna even unbuttons her dress at the collar. Chopin demonstrates how restrained Edna feels in a conventional society and is little by little freeing herself. Moreover, Chopin says, “How strange and awful it seemed to stand naked under the sky! How delicious! She felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world that it had never known”(120). Edna embracing her new beginning and new life, feeling free of responsibilities and commitments that come in marriage and
Chopin also shows us through Adele Ratignolle how Victorian women are like in the 19th century. Chopin says, Madame Ratignolle carries with her the materials for her to sew garments for her children as she visits with Mrs. Pontellier. Limiting the possibilities of other opportunities a Victorian woman could have than just being a wife and mother in a strict society. Chopin demonstrates the contradiction Edna has by saying, “Mrs. Pontellier’s mind was quite at rest concerning the present material needs of her children, and she could not see the use of anticipating and making winter night garments the subject of her summer meditations (13)”. In another instance, Edna’s journey of self expression is displayed when she and Adele go out for a walk to the beach. She wears a veil, gloves, and ruffles to cover her body. Women are restrained by society and the way Adele shows us is by what women wore in the Victorian era. Contradictory to Edna who wears considerably less amount of clothing and once at the beach Edna even unbuttons her dress at the collar. Chopin demonstrates how restrained Edna feels in a conventional society and is little by little freeing herself. Moreover, Chopin says, “How strange and awful it seemed to stand naked under the sky! How delicious! She felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world that it had never known”(120). Edna embracing her new beginning and new life, feeling free of responsibilities and commitments that come in marriage and