...The Awakening’s narrator similarly demonstrates Léonce Pontellier’s power and ownership over Edna at its opening when they are on the beach: “’You are burnt beyond recognition,’ he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage” (563). Edna then interestingly looks down at her hands to see that she is missing her wedding rings, showing that the rings stand as a reminder of Léonce’s ownership over her. Later in chapter III, readers begin to see the tension building up between Léonce and Edna, a situation that leaves her in tears even though “Such experiences as the foregoing were not uncommon in her married life” (566). This passage is significant in that something changes for...
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...Edna Pontellier’s transformation in Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, possesses many valuable lessons that I can put into my life. Watching Edna transition from a super conservative housewife to an independent woman that wishes to function on her own. A couple of valuable lessons that I gathered from reading the awakening are; independence is good, but it is still okay to rely on other people, and doing something too much forces that thing to lose its effect. These lessons are ones that I hope to employ in my life, because Watching Edna become dismissive of the people around her is something that I do not want to recreate. The first lesson is something that I think is very important. Independence is something that everybody should seek. That being said,...
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...(Underlined portion is from the book) Edna walked on down to the beach rather mechanically, not noticing anything special except that the sun was hot. She was not dwelling upon any particular train of thought. She had done all the thinking which was necessary after Robert went away when she lay awake upon the sofa till morning. Edna walked toward the edge of the water, she could feel the foamy wavelets rise and fall on her feet. But no matter how long she may lay awake, how long she may think, the same phrase haunts and fills her thought, “I love you. Good-by—because I love you.” She fell on her knees, the sand feeling almost like a cushion, and let the tears stream down as if they were small rivers flooding during a rainstorm. She neglected her...
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...The Awakening is the story of Edna Pontellier discovering more about herself, and her increasing desire to achieve the ultimate freedom. Kate Chopin uses Edna to illustrate the problems concerning marriage. Chopin’s novel contrasts The Bible’s perspective of how a marriage should appear, yet also compares in the case of the Ratignolle’s marriage. The Ratignolle’s were a family who befriend the Pontellier’s and become foils of one another. When comparing The Bible to the marriages within The Awakening there are several stark contrasts concerning submission, separation, and love; however, there are some comparisons as well. Marriage is mutual respect and submission between two people. In the biblical perspective of marriage, both the husband and wife must “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (The Holy Bible, Ephesians 5:21). Submission does not mean one party has control of the other. Submission, in a biblical perspective, expresses a mutually beneficial relationship that is dependent on the cooperation of both the man and woman. In The Awakening, Leonce and Edna Pontellier’s marriage lacks mutual submission. Leonce...
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...Staying in this house, Edna finds herself in a new, foreign, and romantic world. It feels as if the old social norms vanished, and on this new island she can disregard the other residents on Grand Isle and create a world all her own. Castro describes this new island in a way that “opens up a space in which Edna can enact fantasies of challenging her husband’s authority and developing an intimate relationship with another man” (73). Pointedly, Madame Antoine’s house can serve only as a temporary accommodation—not a home. Edna’s brand-new world of liberty is not a place where she can stay. The “pigeon house”, however, does allow Edna to be both at home and independent. Once she moves to the pigeon house, Edna does not have to look at the material...
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...In the Awakening, we see the change of a woman, and in the process from her start to her downfall, we see sacrifices made , in which her values are revealed. As the novel progresses, the main character- Edna Pontellier seems to alter her values as she sacrifices the things she once valued the most for her own satisfaction. At the start of the novel, Edna is portrayed as a modest, moralistic housewife, who values her children above all, and she strongly values her image. Edna Pontellier valued others’ perception of her. Edna was a very affluent housewife, who maintained an image of the ideal housewife in the eyes of society. Edna cared for her children while her husband was away, and made her marriage out to be perfect when in the presence of others, despite its struggle behind closed doors....
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...How do music and art function within the novel and in Edna’s life? Edna Pontellier was a selfish and and unjustifiable in her behavior and her actions, she had difficulties of self-expression. Mademoiselle Reisz is her friend indeed, she understands her need for freedom and her piano playing she never have heard such music.Edna realize that she can express herself but if she does other people won’t get her, The issue was a society that don't view women as equal to men, it wasn’t right and proper for a women to live the life of an artist. It wasn’t right and proper for a woman’s focus to be somewhere outside the home, that’s why Mr Pontellier is upset by Edna’s inexplicable behavior. (Chapter 9) Edna is trapped by the thought that her actions...
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...The various characters in a book all interact with one another and affect each other in some way. Whether the character's affect is minute or not it will still be evident in the text. Edna Pontellier, being the protagonist of The Awakening, is affected by pretty much all of the other characters mentioned in the book. Even though characters like Doctor Mandelet did not have such a sizable influence as Mademoiselle Reisz did, they all played their own role in Edna's awakening. Leonce Pontellier and Robert Lebrun are two men who had an important impact on Edna Potellier in their own special ways. It is in a way obvious that Leonce Pontellier would have an affect on Edna because he is her husband, however the way he influenced her is not normally...
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...Edna Pontellier was the type of character that is related to unrealistic scene. The way it was unrealistic was her death simply because people can not die that way. She died by walking in the ocean and drowning usually if a regular person would do it they will automatically float and not drown. Now the cause or the reasons she led herself to her death is realtic., Edna started to reject what society put on women and became her own woman. Edna Pontellier a dedication to the quest for enthusiasm and exotic nature because of the absence of it in her marriage and home. Because of these two qualities, Edna began to reject what society put on ladies and turned into her own particular lady. However, with this came the ruin, Edna couldn't see...
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...Suicide is most commonly viewed as the act of giving up completely or self-destructing, probably for good reason. This decision usually leaves behind broken families and friends with no closure or explanation. This topic is touched on in literature with various opinions. One such is Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening,” where Edna Pontellier, the novel’s protagonist, brings about her own end through her eventual suicide. In her case, the significance of her suicide is ambiguous, and although published over one hundred years ago, still creates a myriad of interpretations. The most accurate of these, however, is that Edna’s suicide demonstrates her growth over the course of the novel because it was Edna’s only viable solution for herself and the protection of her husband and children, and...
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...“The Awakening” Symbolism, Irony In Kate Chopin's short story “The Awakening”, the voice of the story portrays a woman with sexual aspirations, and moral female social rules in search for independence and self discovery. The story is based on the 19th century woman. During this time women barely had any freedom, were not recognized within the society and had no choice but to me submissive to their husbands. The main character of the story named Edna is portrayed to be a happy woman because she has everything; a wealthy, attentive husband, and two children. Thoughtout the story the truth about Edna’s unhappiness is revealed. The voice of the story uses symbolism, irony, and figurative language to express Edna Pontellier’s feelings as she found her way to her happiness and freedom. Throughout the text, Chopin encourages readers to think but using situational irony. “Irony- the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.” (Merriam-Webster). While reading, readers are made to think the opposite of what actually happened at the end of the story. In the beginning of the story, Edna’s husband Leonce tells his wife to send his friend Robert away when he starts to bore her. Unknown to Leonce that he was actually the one who was boring Edna. “"Well, send him about his business when he bores you, Edna," instructed her husband as he prepared to leave.” (Chopin 1). Another example of irony is when...
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...In her feminist novel The Awakening, Kate Chopin criticizes the sexist ideals of society. By drawing attention to the objectifying nature of 19th century marriage and romance, the confines of motherhood, and the negative reception of women’s self expression and individualism, Chopin advances her argument of the adversity women face. Throughout the novel, Chopin uses the Pontellier’s marriage- a thing of obligation to Edna, and an institution of control to Mr. Pontellier- to criticize marriage and the idea that women belong to their husbands. Chopin establishes early on that Edna, revealed to have married Mr. Pontellier to rebel against her family, feels no real love for her husband and only cares for her children somewhat despondently; she has no interest in being a tradition “mother woman.” Mr. Pontellier loves Edna,...
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...Rites of Passage 02/18/10 The Awakening The Role of Art in Edna’s Life Throughout The Awakening by Kate Chopin, art becomes a symbol of freedom for Edna. Even though Edna uses art as an escape from her husband, Léonce Pontellier, it also symbolizes failure. Edna believes that if she becomes an artist she will achieve the independence that she desires. She learns about the power that art can have on someone from Mademoiselle Reisz. Mademoiselle Reisz views art as a test of individuality. Edna is unable to pass the test because she incapable of defending her individuality against society and social rules. As Edna makes progress in her paintings and illustrations, she also grows as an individual. Music also becomes a symbol of freedom for Edna. Through the arts, Edna is able to create an independence from her husband. In The Awakening, Edna sees the role that music plays in women’s lives through Mademoiselle Reisz and Adèle Ratignolle. Having two different women that play music, allows Edna to see two paths that she can take to achieve her art and independence. Edna’s friend, Adèle Ratignolle, plays the piano to keep her husband and children happy. Edna enjoys when Adèle Ratignolle plays the piano, but she prefers listening to Mademoiselle Reisz because she thinks Reisz pieces are powerful. When she listens to Mademoiselle Reisz, she discovers unexplored emotional territories. Chopin writes “The very first chords which Mademoiselle Reisz struck upon the piano sent a keen...
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...Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, was originally published in 1899. At the time, society expected a woman’s life to revolve around her husband and children, and few women looked for fulfillment outside their family. The novel was banned from the St. Louis Mercantile Library, where Chopin lived, because the story was about a young woman, Edna Pontellier, who is awakened to her own desires and longing for fulfillment outside her family. She discovers she wishes for more than being her husband, Léonce Pontellier’s, possession. She wants to be independent and discover her sexuality. On summer vacation, Edna discovers her true love, Robert Lebrun, and despite the strict morals of the late 1800s, she explores that love. Chopin’s novel was considered,...
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...Summer Ferguson The Awakening Pt. 3 Baptism Kate Chopin's The Awakening ends with Edna Pontellier's suicide after a long period of self-realization. Edna realizes that society's expectations of her do not fit what she wants out of life, nor what she can give. In this life she has too many connections to a life that she doesn’t necessarily want such as her kids, friendships, and a loveless marriage. Initially she escapes by engaging in a love affair, and by removing herself physically and mentally from her family's company. Edna is experiencing pieces of the life she wants. She experiences these emotions that she wants, but they are fleeting. Edna remembers Adele's voice “whispering, "Think of the children; think of them." She meant to think...
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