Unrestricted Narration In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Every narrator has their own point of view and their own “particular” styles to reach out to the readers. A narrative point of view is the type of personal or non-personal perspective through which a story is communicated. In unrestricted (omniscient) narration, we know more, we hear more and feel more as opposed to restricted narration where we don’t know, see or hear more than the main character. Unrestricted (omniscient) narration has unrestricted access to all aspects of the story. It provides for perceptions and experiences of, all or most of the characters and it is a way of narration. It does also provides, information of the characters. The viewers see more, feel more and are able to connect with the characters.

Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” is told in the perspective of another person, i.e.; a third person view. The narrator uses both internal and external narration. The narrator

SANGHVI 2 describes, the actions and the characters

“He thought it was discouraging his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and value so little his concentration.” (9) Chopin uses omniscient narration which means that the narrator isn’t restricted and the narrator explain aspects of the stories as it moves along to create an image, an image which makes the story more gripping. This helps us to get a better understanding of the story’s characters for example we learn that Edna isn’t happily married to Mr Pontellier and that she doesn’t love or value him as much as he loves and values her. Chopin uses the perspective of a third person narrator focalising through Edna Pontellier, this narration contributes best to the theme of “awakening”. The narrator brings out the emotions and makes us see, as well as feel what Edna sees and feels and the emotions that she