Kate Chopin Work: The Awakening

Introduction

"Kate Chopin was writing before the phrase "women's movement" had been coined"(Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography), but the stirrings of this twentieth century movement were beginning to simmer in the United States. Late 19th century customs demanded that woman be defined in relationship to the men in their life - wife, mother, daughter - and not as separate human beings with a defined-self outside their family relationships. Society strongly discouraged women's attempts to develop a separate and independent self. Kate Chopin's work was praised and admired until the publication of her novel "The Awakening" in 1899. (Kate, 176)The resentment and dislike that followed traveled throughout established literary cliques. The book was banned from certain libraries in her hometown of St. Louis and written off as having disagreeable glimpses of sensuality and "language unfit for publication"(Cambridge Literature: Resource Notes of "The Awakening"). Now, after a century the novel is appreciated more then ever because of its flawless example of modern day women's needs and potential, also the successful example it sets by proving that women are not to be mindless and unsophisticated (Kate, 176).

Kate Chopin was saddened and depressed by the sudden death of her husband. In 1884, Chopin moved her family to her mother's home in St. Louis. She turned to her books, her friends, and eventually to her writing for support. "At Fault", her first novel, was published in 1890. "The Awakening", her second novel, was published in 1899 but it did not enjoy favorable reviews. She wrote little after this setback and died in 1904 of cerebral hemorrhage at age 53.

Kate Chopin Work: The Awakening

"The Awakening" is the story of one woman's struggle for self-identity. Edna Pontellier is a twenty-eight year old wife and mother of two children. Her husband, Leonce, is a successful New Orleans businessman with conventional expectations of his wife. The family summers at Grand Isle, a vacation resort on the Gulf. It is here that Edna begins her awakening. In addition to Edna, the novel centers on two other female characters. Ms.Ratignolle represents the boring, mother-woman figure that society recognizes and applauds. Her world centers on her husband and children and outwardly she sacrifices everything for them. However, she uses her children to get attention for herself, possibly trying to define her existence through them. Edna pointedly turns away from this and begins to spend time with Ms.Reiz. Ms. Reisz is a female artist, a musician who is quite talented, although no one but Edna can see this. She is not beautiful and is despised by all that know her or her reputation. She is soured on the world and her personality promotes individuality. Edna finds this picture frightening also as she sees what society can do to those it disregards for seeking a life outside the norm. (Koloski, 40)

Edna's search for self-identity begins when she first becomes attracted to Robert. The two of them go swimming and she is both afraid and exhilarated by her feelings and not quite ready ...