The Importance Of Setting In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

In a majority of stories written, elements such as characters, plot, and setting compose the story itself. Often times, these elements interact with one another to push the story forward. “The Awakening” is dependent on all these elements, but setting is an important aspect of this novel. A character in particular, Edna Pontellier, is immensely impacted by her surroundings. The setting of Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening affects Edna through the location, social norms and time period. The location of “The Awakening” takes place on the Grand Isle off the coast of Louisiana, which is very important to the main character Mrs. Pontellier. Of course, like a majority of islands, the Grand Isle is surrounded by an ocean. Prior to the events of the story, Edna was not an efficient swimmer. However, on page 27 she pushes herself to swim out into the Gulf of Mexico, and once she does so she feels accomplished and happy with herself. Chopin uses the ocean as an excellent symbol for freedom and escape Edna. This symbolized the freedom and escape she had from the limitations and restrictions of society, especially the …show more content…
During this time, women were expected to look after their children, support their husbands, and tend to household duties. Edna fails at one of these duties: she feels better when she is not watching her children. Then on page 57 Leonce says “It seems to be utmost folly for a woman...to spend in an altier…” Due to these norm-breaking actions of Edna, she feels restricted and confined. As previously mentioned, Edna’s experience in the ocean makes her feel free, but also feels more relaxed at the ocean. In contrast, Adele Ratignolle fits these norms so Edna views her as the perfect woman. Loving her children, doing household chores, and a compatible relation with her husband. Apart from social norms in the 1800s, other aspects of this time period affect the protagonist of “The