Gender Issues In The Awakening

In 1800, New Orleans was the richest and 3rd largest city because its port was used to ship produce to Europe, Caribbean and South America (history.com). French colonists settled in Louisiana because they wanted to increase their population in the new world. They were Catholic sons of noblemen, military men and owners of plantations. They were considered the elite and were proud of their European culture. They continued to live their life and followed European traditions and refused to learn how to speak English. They owned businesses, were landowners, political leaders and were patrons of the arts. These settlers continued to buy clothing, wine and books from France so they would be updated with the latest French trends and fashion.
Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening is a story of about a woman finding herself and her struggle to gain freedom from the conservative and …show more content…
Their family vacationed in the Grand Isle, a resort where rich New Orleans residents go to during the summer. She eventually got dissatisfied with her marriage because her husband would leave her to take care of his business. During the Victorian era, women were expected to be good and loyal wives, to just stay at home and take care of the children, manage the household and absolutely not get caught in any scandal. (aboutbritain.com) . It was unthinkable for a woman to have an affair in this highly moral society. Meeting, spending time and falling in love with Robert Lebrun was a struggle Edna had to face as a married woman. It was a struggle but it also inspired her to go out of her shell and break the chains that had been holding her for a long time. She learns independence and finds freedom to express her emotions and do the things she loves to do. “Edna commits suicide because she realizes that there is no place in this world for a woman who asserts her erotic needs and her independence from society”