A Changing Soul
The 19th century was an era of defined gender spheres. Men were expected to maintain a public life, providing for the family monetarily while socializing with other like-minded gentlemen in meeting places like clubs or bars. Conversely, women were seen as homebound creatures, expected to care for the children, cook for the family, and clean the house. Their free time was spent performing tasks meant to improve the quality of the family, such as sewing, rather than socializing with other women. In Kate Chopin’s feminist novel The Awakening, the main protagonist, Edna Pontellier, embarks on a personal journey to discover her own unique part in society, defying the typical feminine roles of the times. Chopin exemplifies Edna’s …show more content…
Early on in the novel, Edna distinguishes herself from the other women on Grand Isle by describing the Creole women's attitude toward their own roles as "a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals" in order to best serve their family (Chopin 8). The author employs verbal irony in this instance to demonstrate Edna's feelings toward traditional femininity. Edna does not fit the typical role of wife and mother, and she is not willing to give up her identity, as the other women are, to fit such a role. TRANSITION? The final scene of the book, as a whole, is an example of situational irony, wherein Edna, despite feeling "like some new-born creature", chooses to drown herself in the sea (Chopin 115). It is expected that Edna's newfound individuality should help her to forge her own path in her life, as she is able to see the world anew without the societal constraints to which she once conformed. Alas, her freedom leads her to her demise, which is ironic in the sense that readers expect an entirely different outcome. Chopin uses the final scene to show that Edna has undergone the ultimate change as a character, but her awakening leads her to a grim fate. CONCLUDING
The 19th century was an era of defined gender spheres. Men were expected to maintain a public life, providing for the family monetarily while socializing with other like-minded gentlemen in meeting places like clubs or bars. Conversely, women were seen as homebound creatures, expected to care for the children, cook for the family, and clean the house. Their free time was spent performing tasks meant to improve the quality of the family, such as sewing, rather than socializing with other women. In Kate Chopin’s feminist novel The Awakening, the main protagonist, Edna Pontellier, embarks on a personal journey to discover her own unique part in society, defying the typical feminine roles of the times. Chopin exemplifies Edna’s …show more content…
Early on in the novel, Edna distinguishes herself from the other women on Grand Isle by describing the Creole women's attitude toward their own roles as "a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals" in order to best serve their family (Chopin 8). The author employs verbal irony in this instance to demonstrate Edna's feelings toward traditional femininity. Edna does not fit the typical role of wife and mother, and she is not willing to give up her identity, as the other women are, to fit such a role. TRANSITION? The final scene of the book, as a whole, is an example of situational irony, wherein Edna, despite feeling "like some new-born creature", chooses to drown herself in the sea (Chopin 115). It is expected that Edna's newfound individuality should help her to forge her own path in her life, as she is able to see the world anew without the societal constraints to which she once conformed. Alas, her freedom leads her to her demise, which is ironic in the sense that readers expect an entirely different outcome. Chopin uses the final scene to show that Edna has undergone the ultimate change as a character, but her awakening leads her to a grim fate. CONCLUDING