Review of "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

"The Awakening" by Kate Chopin is a short story about Edna Pontellier and her attempt to escape her life trapped in the traditional role of a woman. Kate Chopin was born in 1850 and wrote many short stories about bold and adventurous women, and "The Awakening" is no exception. The story explores the stereotypical roles women often were forced to play in the late 19th century, but also gives us a deeper insight into the inner world of one woman and her personal struggles– a narrative not told nearly enough.

Edna Pontellier, her husband Léonce Pontellier, and their two children live a quiet, boring life in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Mr. Pontillier makes Edna take care of the children while he works and earns money for the family. Edna, however, is not satisfied by this relatively solitary and uneventful life; she yearns for adventure. After her 29th birthday, she begins to realize that although by age 30 she has not failed in accomplishing society’s expectation of marriage and bearing children, she is a failure in her own eyes because she has accomplished nothing that makes her happy. She is deeply in love with Robert Lebrun, a young, unmarried man who faces his mutual love for Edna by leaving her and visiting Mexico for most of the story. Edna feels whole with Robert and as if she can truly express herself. Meeting Rober prompts her to spend more time away from her family and pursue some of her passions, such as painting. The life spent looking after the family and taking care of the house that Mr. Pontellier puts upon Edna does not suit her, so she ignores him as he continually attempts to regain control. However, one cannot discuss Edna’s deepest feelings without addressing the title of the book. The idea of Edna’s “awakening” comes with many questions. What is she awakening from? Who/what is awakening her? What does she come to realize when she is awakening? And, my personal favorite, how did she fall “asleep” in the first place? I will attempt to answer all these questions. The premise of Edna’s awakening has to do with how she is kept back from her full potential by being forced into the role of mother and wife– a role that she is not very good at anyway. Edna looks at other female figures in the story, such as her close friend Madame Adèle Ratignolle, who embodies everything a woman at that time was supposed to be. Edna reflects upon herself in comparison to Madame Ratignolle and sees that they are not only different but also are meant to be different. People may criticize Edna for neglecting her children, but if anything Mr. Pontellier’s neglect is just as much if not more than Edna, and the failure to recognize this parallel again reflects the expectation for women to be more naturally drawn to their children. As she gradually realizes her place in the world as a woman in the story, Edna is, ironically, awakened by the male figures in her life. Her husband, Mr. Pontellier, shows her that the life he wants her to live is never going to be something she’ll enjoy. Her love, Robert Lebrun, shows her that she can be herself and never conform to someone else's wants. Her other lover, Arobin, with whom she has no real deep connection, shows her that she is an independent woman who should be able to do what she wants with no consequences that a man would not receive. Society’s immediate expectations for women may have caused Edna to become unsuspecting of her position in life at first, but I think that the most important factor in Edna’s awakening is her. Ultimately, in the end, Edna, by herself, is the one who commits an extreme act that not only demonstrates how trapped she feels but demonstrates that she can take matters into her own hands.

Note: Lucy's Literature will not be posting like usual on December 10th and December 24th, but will be back as scheduled on January 7th, 2023.