The Awakening Literary Analysis

Kate Chopin was a woman who devoted her life to literature. Much of the fiction she wrote was based on the nurturing she received as she grew up. Within this late 19th century patriarchal society she was mentored by her mother and grandmother on how to be a lady. All of these factors contributed to the creation of The Awakening, a novel in which she expresses her views on society in the form of fictional characters. The main character Edna finds herself trapped in a society in which she cannot possess the freedom to control her own life. Throughout her novel, Chopin focuses mainly on the social injustice Enda faces. Chopin’s work initially was not well received during time, as critics called her work morbid and distasteful. This was primarily …show more content…
Within her novel, Chopin focuses a great deal of attention to Adéle’s characterization. It is through her characterization in which Chopin can address the issues she sees within society. Adéle is the “embodiment of every womanly grace and charm...the bygone heroine of romance and the fair lady of our dreams” (Chopin 8). Adele’s image serves as the societal standard of what Edna and every woman is expected to be. Chopin carefully chooses her words such as grace and romance to show the primary type of adjectives associated with women. These adjectives focus on a woman 's image as opposed their true qualities, it further shows the objectivism of women. Society is focused on a woman 's ability to fit the portrait of their desires not her own. Men want a woman who idolizes her children and has a strong sense of devotion to her husband. This type of life was essentially enshrined by law. Subsequently, early on during this time women did not question these rules, they accepted life as it was (Female …show more content…
Edna 's awakening has two meanings. One where she desires to be autonomous as a human being, and the other where she desires a connection with a man who she can connect with emotionally and will support her journey in finding her real self (Bogard). Within this male dominated society there is no place for women to be in between, “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 possess the courageous soul” (Chopin 63). Mademoiselle Reisz is expressing that a female cannot be both male dependent and a lover while also having the ability to dictate their own life. In order to be truly independent, one must have the bravery to break free from all forms of societal demands. Edna is not ready to fully commit herself to this newly found awakening. Somewhere deep inside she still holds on to the part of her which desires wealth, family and social status. During this time, when a woman married a man, her possessions essentially became the property of her husband. In the case of a divorce, the woman was almost always left with nothing (Female Empowerment). If Edna were to let go of her husband, she understands that she would almost certainly have everything