Kate Chopin, The Awakening
Kate Chopin, The AwakeningIn Kate Chopin's The Awakening Edna Pontellier "awakens" to the realization that she is a person and not the possession of her husband. When she awakens she realizes she is in an oppressive society and that she is no longer one of the mindless member of the majority but an individual who's passion conflicts the responsibility that society feels she should be dedicated to. She finds true love but realizes that to follow it would mean defying the majority and losing her family and everything she had. In the end their conflicting ideas and her unwillingness, or selfishness depending on your view, to give up to society lead to her suicide.
After her first liberation in the water, she begins to distance herself from both her husband and children. "I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself." (pg.47) Her unwillingness to sacrifice herself for her children and her husband demonstrates that she does not want to give herself away in order to make others happy. Edna can give her children superficial items, yet because of her new found "awakening" she can no longer truly serve to provide for their happiness. The only point that she makes clear in that statement is that she would give her life for her children, showing that she loves them but cannot define herself based on creating their happiness. Her actions resemble those of a child. Her awakening evolves into a selfish agenda, concerned only with her own happiness and disregarding all others.
The culture portrayed in The Awakening put heavy emphasis upon responsibility and duty. Edna finds herself wanting to stray from her responsibilities and embrace her intense desire for personal fulfillment. Edna's choice to escape shows two elements: rebellion to the suppression of her adventurous spirit and the lack of "fulfillment" in her relationship. After being "reasonable" for the twenty-eight years of her life, Edna breaks down. Her life has been riddled with reason and duty, essentially giving herself away to the people around her. This devotion to responsibility causes her to break away from her common behavioral pattern and moves her to focus on finding her inherent happiness. She wants to pursue love and disregard her duty to her husband and children. She falls in what she considers "girlish" love...
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