The Awakening

T H E A W A K E N I N G

The Awakening, a novel written by Kate Chopin and published in 1899, is a controversial tale about a woman who chooses to abandon the suffocating life she leads in the cult of domesticity and gain freedom by abandoning her womanly roles. Mademoiselle Reisz words, “the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings”, set the theme for the entire novel; one that discusses the struggles people must go through the break traditions.

Edna, the protagonist, is shows as a humble, married mother that develops into a strong, independent woman through her unique experiences. Edna, for example, chooses to abandon her husband for another man whom she fell in love with. Though some would argue that this just shows immorality and selfishness, it does show a backdrop of inner strength. Because this novel does take place in the late 19th century, a time when women were only acknowledged as lowly creatures fit to please their husbands, both the author and Edna both show a great amount of strength, those “strong wings”, that was uncommon of women of this time because it was so much against the tradition. Edna shows a different type of strength when she also chooses to let go of her children. Though she loves them dearly, she feels she much let go of them because they tie her down to the life she doesn’t want to live. Mademoiselle Reisz’s words apply here because she also does break the prejudicial motherly stereotype. She eventually, towards the end of the novel, gets вЂ?physical’ with multiple men without being married. This would have been almost unheard of in the 19th century, or in Edna’s society, and she does struggle to break the tradition. In a way, she is not just leading an immoral life, but Edna (and the author), is sending a strong message to all women

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