The Awakening

Question: If Edna was alive in our society at this time, would she still try to be rebellious and fight against the our society's gender restrictions?

Comments: After reading The Awakening, I became more aware of how the society in the 1800's effected women. Edna was paralyzed by a society that made her feel nothing. She was forced into a marriage not based on love, but on the demands of her family and assumed the role as a dependable wife and mother. But after her summer with Robert, Edna goes from her life as a devoted wife and mother to a rebel. She becomes aware of her own independence and sexuality and refuses to return to her old lifestyle. Inevitably, Edna finds her freedom in the sea at Gran Isle. Although the author leaves the question of Edna's motives unasnwered, I believe this symbolizes her cowerdly surrender to her problems, since she decided to take the easy way out and not face reality.