The Awakening

The Awakening is set in 1899, a time when the Industrial Revolution and the women's movement were just beginning, yet still overshadowed by the attitudes of society. Kate Chopin's idea that a woman’s needs were important was radical, especially since women were not considered independent, and women’s rights were just beginning to be fought.

Edna's major conflict was her need for independence and personal fulfillment while still trying to conform to her traditional upbringing. Edna was expected to be a perfect wife and mother, both while vacationing on Grand Isle and living in New Orleans. She was to be the social hostess , wife and mother, all the while keeping house, maintaining order with the servants and children, and being the perfect hostess once a week. While she is living on Grand Isle and in the big house in New Orleans, Edna stays inside these conventional roles, does what is expected of her, and never looks further than her front door, so to speak.

Edna's husband, Leonce, is kind and loving but very preoccupied with his work. He allows his work to keep him from home not only during the day, but also for extended periods. When he is away from home for long periods (i.e. many months in fact), he sends Edna gifts to show his love. The servants remark, “Mr. Pontellier is the best husband in the world” due to his generosity. When Leonce arrives home, he expects “his” home to be in perfect order with all of "his things" on display and in their perfect places. Edna should never do anything, “which would cause her husband to complain”. If her husband is displeased with, let us say, dinner, he has the right to leave and get dinner at the "club". It is perfectly acceptable for Leonce to leave after dark and socialize, how...

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...w far she can push those boundaries which have been placed upon her

The Awakening was published in 1889 and was written by a well established national writer. However, when it was reviewed by critics they labeled it as morbid, vulgar, disagreeable and shocking. With its romantic theme of women’s rights and freedom, as well as rebellion against societies cultural norms, pushed her peers to their limits. The St. Louis Daily Globe Democrat (1899) stated, “It is not a healthy book; if it points any particular moral or teaches any lesson, the fact is not apparent…Mrs. Pontiellier does not love her husband. The poison of passion seems to have entered her system, with her mother’s milk”. .

Kate Chopin’s fiction was mostly forgotten after her death, until scholars and readers set in motion a Kate Chopin revival in the 1950’s. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story.