Grand Isle

The Awakening by Kate Chopin is about a woman’s transformation from an obedient traditional housewife and mother into a self-realized, sexually liberate and independent woman. The novel published in 1899 back in a time when women were not thought of as people but as property of their husband’s. Throughout the novel Edna Pontieller expresses her progress, in The Awakening, as a new woman by using the symbolism of the caged birds, art and music, houses, and the sea. From the very beginning of…

The desire to belong is integral to human nature, but so is curiosity. The Awakening is a Victorian era novel by Kate Chopin following Edna Pontellier’s untimely search for social, financial, and emotional independence. Her character is highly reflective in nature. At one point she notes that while she may conform to appease those watching, she secretly questions the behaviour she witnesses in herself and others. Chopin examines the disparity between outward conformity and inner doubt through…

Few literary works are so unconventional and ahead of their time that the controversial discussion surrounding them has continued for more than a century after their publication. In order for a book to have this effect, it must present its ideas in an entirely new way, often boldly challenging the preconceived notions of the reader and perhaps even society itself. The Awakening by Kate Chopin does this unlike any other novel of its time. It tells the story of a young woman named Edna as she…

Imagine that you are coming to the realization that you are a nobody. That you are just an average person in an average society. Chopin's story The Awakening in Chopin's story symbolizes the realization that the main character and protagonist comes to. Edna has become awakened by the end of the story because she realizes that the life she left was the life she cherished the most. Her new life was not what as luxurious as she thought it was going to be. This caused her to reconsider all of the…

The Awakening Feminism is one of the broadest and most arguable critical lenses. Edna, along with other female characters, demonstrate the aspects of feminism and the expected way of living in a world controlled by men in The Awakening by Kate Chopin. There are a variety of symbols in this text that demonstrate the struggles of the female characters. Throughout the text, the characters also grow tremendously which is shown in various ways. This included Edna trying to rebel against what was…

The Symbolism of Birds in The Awakening During the Victorian Era, women were forced to conform to unwritten rules created by society. Women were subordinate to men as they were expected to dress, behave, and live their life in the way that society believed to be correct. In The Awakening, Kate Chopin utilizes birds to symbolize Edna’s confined position in society and foreshadow her awakening. In doing so, Chopin conveys that women can transcend from the limitations set by their society and live…

The Awakening Since the feminist movement between the 1960s and 1970s, many scholars have showed much interest to Kate Chopin’s literature. This particular story shows a life of a married woman and the struggles of her family, husband and her desires for love and freedom. The short story “The Awakening” has a specific symbolism that has a lot of meaning throughout the story. Chopin begins the novel with a scene of a parrot. In the academic journal of "The Awakening And A Lost Lady: Flying With…

In the novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin symbolism is present in numerous ways. Edna’s learning to swim is symbolic of her life and of the multiple events that consequently transpire later in this novel. Edna’s new found confidence and need for control ultimately lead her to search for herself and become an individual once again. Through symbolism it becomes present that Edna Pontellier discovers herself; however it is during this process of self-discovery and Edna’s experiences that occur…

The Awakening by Kate Chopin displays the struggle a woman goes through in order to break her current situations. In this novel, Edna Pontellier releases herself to her deepest yearnings, plunging into a relationship that rekindles her long sexual desires, enflames her heart, and eventually takes over and Enda can see nothing else. As she goes through many changes Edna gets involved in many activities. One of these activities are painting; painting becomes one of her favorite pastimes and her…

The Awakening by Kate Chopin is an 1899 short story set at a time when society discriminated women. The story introduces a nineteenth-century way of living in New Orleans. The experiences the author Chopin underwent during this period and time encouraged her to come up with this piece of work the awakening. The author narrates the life of a woman by the name of Edna Pontellier who underwent the oppression in life but later decided to change the traditions and disobey the beliefs that oppressed…