The Awakening

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 makes the transformation from an introverted housewife to an independent feminist, which alone was enough reason for it to…

Susan Griffin wrote: “He says that women speak with nature. That wind blows in her ears and trees whisper to her” (14). While the sentiment is beautiful, the dichotomous thinking in patriarchal society that sets up binary separations of male/female and culture/nature along with assumption that women are inherently closer to nature informs these lines, and as Griffin says, this “notion is not intended as a compliment” because “the idea … is an argument for the dominion of men” (Griffin 10). This…

The movie Flowers for Algernon and Awakenings are both the same in some areas and then different in other areas The movie Awakenings is about a doctor named Oliver Sacks and a patient named Leonard. Leonard who survived the encephalitis epidemic now has a brain Syndrome which allows him to be in a catatonic state. After Dr. Sacks many hours of research he came across the totally new drug at the time L- Dopa. L- Dopa would allow the patients using it to come out of the catatonic state they were…

In the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Edna Pontellier, also known as Mrs. Pontellier, is torn between two totally different worlds. Thus, leading to the development of her character, relationships, and conflicts she is involved in throughout the novel. Edna is bound by the gender roles of the 18th century. She constantly fights between reality and what she wants to do with her own life. In the novel, The Awakening, Kate Chopin creates conflict throughout the novel by illuminating Edna’s…

Title: The Awakening Author: Kate Chopin Setting: New Orleans, Louisiana and Grand Isle, Louisiana Genre: Drama, Romance (to an extent), Feminist Literature Historical context: Published in 1899. At the time, women’s issues were at the forefront of America. In particular, the setting (Louisiana) was a state that trended towards traditional attitudes (low divorce rate, traditional gender roles). Theme; Gender Roles “If it was not a mother’s place to look after children, whose on earth was it?”…

The Awakening by Kate Chopin, first published in 1899, a time where women had little independence and did their daily duties were to be a perfect mother and wife, just like Edna Pontellier had to live her life with a businessman from New orleans, Leonce Pontellier. Edna discovers her own identity and acknowledges her emotional desire. During the 1800 women were expected to “ worship” their husbands , and do their job as a housewife. Many women is the 1800’s and in today’s society can relate…

“The Awakening” by Kate Chopin is a novella about a married woman, Edna, who realizes that she is unsatisfied with her life. Chopin wrote this in a period where feminist ideas were just starting to appear, but it was still a world where women were expected to be married, be mothers, and stay in the home. Margo Culley writes her essay on the novella in a period where feminism in is its third wave; where women are focused on individual identity, diversity, and breaking stereotypes . Culley, a…

Though The Awakening may not be a book that all audiences enjoy, it’s merit as a work of literature cannot be denied. It has underlying motifs and ideas that Chopin brings into fruition through a variety of well-developed techniques, making The Awakening not only a book worthy of merit but being taught. Her book challenged pre-existing societal norms not only in 1900’s America, but still does today across cultural barriers with its controversial theme on challenging gender roles and feminism. It…

Escape and Self-Confinement In the Awakening In Kate Chopin’s, The Awakening, Edna’s relentless pilgrimage for freedom resulted in her personal incarceration. Edna’s love for Robert, lack of loyalty in her marriage, and visits to the race track, were all attempts to become free from what society insisted. The results of these actions imposed more restrictions on Edna than society did. Edna’s marriage with Leonce was not exemplary. He was often away and did not give the love and affection…

to enjoy life and to discover their true selves. In both Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, the path to self discovery can be difficult, but can lead to fulfilling endings. Both authors presented how two women from different backgrounds can experience the same struggles and harvest the same desires. Self discovery brings about newfound freedoms in Chopin’s The Awakening, when Edna Pontellier moves into a “pigeon house” which provides both an…