The Awakening - In place of Group Assignment

The Awakening is a book full of feminist images and symbolism. Some of the common images that are used repetitively are that of birds, all in different situations throughout the story, and they all relate to the stage of freedom that Edna is experiencing. The first image of a bird is that of the caged bird with the open door. In this image Edna is represented as a caged bird, one that can leave the cage but can leave. Even if it leaves though more likely than not it will return. This bird is introduced in conjunction with Leonce who is Edna's husband. The story describes the fact that Leonce is at times bothered by the bird's song, and when he grows weary of it he is free to quit its presence. This shows a strained relationship between Edna and Leonce. Whenever Leonce is weary of Edna he simply quits her presence and goes gambling. But, Edna cannot quit his presence becuase her home is right where Leonce always returns. She can fly to some other part but must always return.
The second image is that of the flying birds, symbolizing Edna's process of multiple awakenings throughout the story. She sees this image while she is out by the sea with Robert, who consequently is the one mostly responsible for Edna's Awakening (as she states at the end of the story). The flying birds show how Edna is finally seeing the world as she should, through free eyes and not through the iron bars of men's control.
The third image comes at the end of the story. It is of the bird with a broken wing, which is falling towards the sea below. This image is introduced when Edna returns to Grand Isle by herself. She sees this image right before she decides to end her life due to all the tension from her desires and obligations. This image shows how Edna is broken by the contradicting desires she feels in her heart. To either be true to her choice of marrying Leonce or giving in to her desires for Robert. According to mademoiselle Reisz her wings were not strong enough to carry her above prejudice and support her flight that contradicts societal norms of the times.
This book relates strongly with one of the first articles read in class, Gender in the Home, which gives examples of how Carribean immigrant women are expected to act. They are expected to stay in the home and tend to the household chores, such as cleaning the house and caring for the children. Women are also limited from leaving the house to pursue education or their own desires, whatever they may be.
It can be said that Edna has many Awakenings throughout the story. (1)When she refuses to follow Leonce into the house after her first swim. This is where she says she wants to go farther into sea, farther than any woman has gone before. (2) When she sleeps in strangers bed and awakes to see the world through different eyes. (3) When she chooses to move out from her home with Leone. This final one asserts her independence from Leonce and male domination. Possible 4) There can also be an awakening at the end of the story when she decides to commit suicide. Here, she comes to the realization that she cannot wholly be herself in this male dominated world. She feels she is not strong enough, although there were other women who were. Therefore she chooses to end her life by swimming in the sea which caused her first awakening. It is her final slumber.

The Awakening Blog Assignment

The Awakening was a good book, full of feminist thought and logic with regards to the way women were treated at the time. Some of the feminist issues presented in the story are the ideas that women are not beneath men and that they do not need to answer to them when they desire to follow their motivations. There is also the argument that women's clothing of the time was constricting both physically and emotionally. It was physically constricting by restraining a woman's free movement, and it was emotionally limiting by the fact that women were seen as frail creatures that had to be tight-waisted and full of beauty.

Question: What other feminist ideas are prevalent throughout the story? How are they revealed both the Edna and the reader?

The Awakening

The Awakening was a fascinating book in which I noticed many trends of women, mostly Edna, was revolting from society. She is not like the typical woman and she likes that fact. She is strong willed and does not like being treated as a possession. She married Leonce strictly in order to fit into societal norms rather than love. Then she fell for Robert. Robert is the passionate side of Edna's life. She has structure with her family, but it is not structure that she enjoys. Although she loves her family and kids, she does not enjoy playing the domestic role in her household. She does not fit into the typical role of a mother. She almost would rather have her family to just escape to sometimes. It was interesting to me that she enjoyed swimming. I see swimming as being freeing and limiting at the same time. Since Edna does not know how to swim, it is limiting. However, once she learns how to swim she feels too free and tries to go out further then she is able to. This shows me that freedom can also harm someone. Edna felt so free that she put herself at risk. The birds also fascinated me. From the begginning of the novel, birds are a strong symbol. They symbolize the constraints placed on individuals or society. The birds are caged in and are not free. This is similiar to women. Women have strict roles that they have to fulfill in order to be accepted. By her commiting suicide at the end it shows me that Edna could not fill the independent role. She thought she could move out and be on her own with free love, however she could not handle that on her own. By commiting suicide she freed herself once and for all from all the limiting agents in society. One question that constantly was driven into my mind was who is the true foil character to Edna? While each character plays a major role, I want to know who is the strongest foil.

The Awakening

I had a different view of women that time after reading The Awakening. As post-Victorian women, they were not expected to be "social" and they were required to be good wives and mothers and husbands' helpers. However, Edna refused to live this kind of life. She learned to swim; she did arts; she found her own love. But unfortunately, Edna were neither brave enough to be a "outsider" nor would she like to continue the old life. She suffered a lot and when she found even Robert did not understand her, she was completely awakening. That society was not for women to be active or to choose their own lifestyle. So, at the end of the book, Edna chose to suicide while she was completely freed from the constrained society.
Question: Did the Leonce found out the relationship between Robert and Edna?

The Awakening

It was refreshing to read of Edna’s brave subversion against the social norm, and I was especially fascinated with her decision to commit suicide at the end of the novel. Unlike other women who adhered to the traditional domestic realm, Edna discovered that she can rebel and attain her individuality and independence. As Prof Messner mentioned in class today, Edna was given three choices in her life: to be a devoted wife and mother, a rebel, or a revolutionist. Edna’s suicide can be interpreted as her rejection to the constraints that were placed by the society as a rebel. Realistically, I find it absurd yet intrigued of her decision to abandon her children for the sake of her perseverance of individuality. Just as Edna previously mentioned to mademoiselle Reisz that she would give up her life, but not her self and soul for her children, Edna’s actions represented an unprecedented strength that some women wielded during her time. Her courageousness is admirable in a sense, but I would have taken a different approach if I was in Edna’s shoes and attempt to shoulder all possible tasks of a woman at the same time.


Which symbolisms are depicted in the novel other than birds, water, art, and clothes?

the awakening

I was actually somewhat disappointed in Edna's character. While I enjoyed the idea of her rebellion against the societal norms with her decision to love another man, and remove herself from the constraints of society, I didn't like how she had to commit suicide as a final separation from society. Though it is a very final statement that confirms her position outside the societal norms, I still wish she had done something more realistic, like move away and move on with her life. I guess in my eyes that would have made her seem like a stronger woman. In addition, it took a man to make Edna open her eyes to the restrictions of society, a point I see as kind of ironic. Though she is rebelling against some class and gender roles, it still takes a man to make the woman do something out of the ordinary. I also feel as though the pressure of societal norms that pushed Robert away from the taboo of loving Edna are the same pressures that led to Edna's extreme reaction: if there had been just one other friend whom Edna could have confided in, one who could relate to her actions and feelings, she would not have had to deal with the isolation that came with her 'awakening'. Though she was illuminated in a way that only she could understand, a feeling that probably empowered her to be the rebel that she was, Robert's rejection of her and her love was a tipping point that just led her back to her beginning, and made her end her short clash with society. Robert's role in all of this makes me wonder: If Edna had been awakened by something other realization of her own power, or NOT influenced by a man, would it have changed the critical response to Chopin's story?

Carmen_The Awakening post

Question: What is the symbolic meaning of Edna's infatuation with the sea?

Comment: At the end of The Awakening Edna commits suicide. This was a strange and abrupt was to end the book. Part of me thinks that by doing this Chopin is suggesting Edna's defeat. Like the bird that falls from the sky before she goes into the water, Edna's wings were not strong enough for her to fly away freely. As Messner discussed in discussion today, his student from prison suggested the idea that most people don't know they have bars around them and once they realize they are there they will probably not be able to live on the outside of their "cage" because they have unknowingly been inside for so long. Chopin could possibly be suggested that this happened to Edna and that she ultimately failed in becoming independent. However, I don't think that Edna failed. She broke free of many of the bounds of her society and age cohort. Edna's suicide symbolized her arrival to ultimate freedom. Edna could not live happily in her society; she could not lead the life she wanted to lead. By commiting suicide she released herself from her bodily bounds and freed her mind.

The Awakening

Kate Chopin essentially broke down all boundaries of the time when she decided to write The Awakening. The novel would even be slightly controversial now, but at the time it was written, her ideas were not even heard of. Chopin relays the feminist message through Edna Pontellier, who is a mother and a wife, though she is seemingly unattached from her family and does not pay much attention to them. She leaves them and attempts to escape the reality of life’s responsibilities. The novel definitely subverts the gender norm that women, especially in the 1900’s, must be housewives and mothers. It is interesting that Edna’s husband continues to reach for his wife’s attention. The gender roles seem to have been switched from the expected values of the early 20^th century. Although I recognize the feminist image Edna’s character portrays, I also believe it is an extreme illustration of how a woman should individualize herself. There are other ways to be independent rather than abandoning one’s family and then committing suicide. Edna pursues an adulterous relationship and abandons her children, yet she is supposed to be an image of feminism. I feel that the extremity of her actions is not something to be seen as positive, but I can understand the theme that women can be individuals and empower themselves.

Question: How do you think other women in the time period would react to a character like Edna? Would any agree and follow her ideas? Or were her actions too extreme?

The Awakening

This book shows the changing process of the woman character; how Mrs. Pontellier becomes more independent. Mrs. Pontellier is a woman who has strong personality that is reflected in her actions; for example, when she learns how to swim. She swims really far away from a Grand Isle coast to prove her independence and strength. Edna does not love her husband, but she got married anyways; her husband does not really love her as well; besides, her husband is just concerned about his standing position in the society. I think that it is terrible to marry a man who does not even care much about you, but more about what people say. Edna spends time with Robert who listens to her and who somewhat understands her. She really misses him when he is not around her; the news about Robert leaving to go to Mexico made Edna feel absolutely upset. It is interesting how a different man gives more moral support to the lady then her own husband and it is one of the reasons why Edna thinks more about Robert then her husband. Another example, shows that Robert cares about Edna and it is reflected in the scene when Robert gives his arm to Mrs. Pontellier when she was sitting next to the pool while waiting her husband to come home. She misses Robert a lot what is shown at the scene where Edna goes to visit Robert’s mother and she sees the letter that Robert’s mother received from him Edna got jealous because she wanted to receive letter from him instead of what she just got - greetings. Furthermore, I do agree with Edna when she says that she is not ready to give up herself for children because a mother needs to take care of children, but not to forgive her personality. Edna’s personality is fighter, but one can never know if that kind of decisions can make things better or worse.
Question: What excatly pushed Edna to create that close relationshops between her and Robert?

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.

The awakening blog

Comment:
It is interesting that in the book The Awakening mentions a lot of different topics we discussed in class, such as races, classes, gender, etc. The most impressive thing in the book for me is Kate Chopin was married her husband not for love, but for family, conformity norms, political and financial arrangement which someone mentioned in class today. I do believe that marriage must contains love; however, the marriage at that time was not mainly or only based on love, but also some other social issues. Also, the independence of Edna shown in the book also seems interesting. As at that time, women were suppose to be stay at home as being a good wife and a good mother. She chose her own way to live. She did not allowed people to visit her, and she just enjoyed in her drawing. She looked like the outsider within at that time.

Question:: Why critics said the book is not a healthy book at that time? Why they judged this way, based on what socail structure at that time?

The Awakening

I have found The Awakening to be very entertaining because of how subversive the subject matter is. Kate Chopin wrote about views of married and family life that were not discussed in public if at all by society at the time it was written. She pushes the proverbial envelope by presenting a character who is not satisfied in the gender role she has been assigned. Edna Pontellier is troubled by the part she is forced to play. This can be seen in her obvious disregard for her husband and by her lack-luster performance as a mother. She attempts to step outside the perscribed duties and roles of women in attempt to find freedom. She ultimately reaches this goal but shedding her oppressive clothing and swimming out into the ocean, a place beyond society's reach and rules.

Question: Can parallels be drawn between the experiences of Kate Chopin's characters and her own life? What allowed Chopin to make such subversive social commentaries?

Comment: Today in class someone mentioned that they thought Edna was courageous and liberating at the end of The Awakening because she left everything behind and just went into the water. I disagree with this statement because I believe that if she were truly liberating, she would find a way to live on her own by becoming an artist or attending a college for women and finding a way. Though the society was critical and judgmental, she could have found a way to make it work. It seemed like she did not attempt very hard to do any one thing, except when she was having an affair, and when she was in love with Robert, though the awakening after the birth of her friend's baby made her realize that even that was fleeting. It seems to me that she is immature for her age, like a sixteen or eighteen year old trapped in a twenty-eight yearbody. She does not have the motherly instincts that come with age, and she has a summer fling that most teenagers dream about. She also tends to move from one interest to another old's her rather quickly like a child losing interest in a toy.

Question: How do the men in this time period accept the fact that their wives have friendly relationships with other men and not feel threatened by it?

Kate Chopin - The Awakening

One of the most significant parts of reading the Awakening for me was realizing when it had been published. Through the lens of an early 20th century audience, Kate Chopin's creation would be nothing short of liberating and, in some ways, very scandalous. I can only imagine how awed some of her first readers might have been. Yet at times, such a significant part of the Awakening can be taken for granted. As someone who has grown up in an era where feminist values have largely developed since Chopin's time, some of Edna's bold decisions and call to freedom can be underestimated. Yet when taking in consideration the times at which Chopin wrote the novel, the Awakening's strong and ardent messages of freedom and independence come across through Edna's character.

Apart from being a timeless work of literature, Edna's story expresses the harshness and intolerance of society. Even though Edna conformed to being the maternal figure everybody wanted from her, liberating herself and being promiscuous was what she wanted from herself--this being something society did not accept and thus leading to her ultimate downfall.

Question: Along the lines of what Messner mentioned in today's lecture, if Edna has access to so much domestic help and is not allowed to do much socially or outside the house, how is someone like her supposed to be creative?

The Awakening

Question: Do you believe that the oppression of women upon World War II had a major influence on Edna and other emergent individuals’ highly sexualized behavior?

Comment: What I found intriguing about The Awakening is that Kate Chopin touches on many of the axes of difference we have discussed in our class. Race, sexual orientation, and social status are extremely prevalent issues in the book and for the general era. Conservative ideals of such factors shaped the way in which men and women often functioned in daily life and, in particular, within the home. Additionally, Chopin expresses a recurrent juxtaposition between freedom and oppression, patriarchal gender roles and modern gender roles, constrained and highly enabled sexuality, and objectivity and subjectivity. Edna was able to channel and express her emotions in a revolutionary way, by voicing her desire to break away from what was commonly accepted (and even demanded) of a wife and mother. She left her husband, for example, and became an independent individual, which mirrors the same kind of actions among other culturally oppressed groups.

blog assignment

Questions: Is the character of The Awakening reflects to the author, Kate Chopin? Is there any reason that Kate wrote this book? How does the characters different from the women at that time? or what are the similarities and differences between the main character and modern women.

Comment: after reading this book, this leads me know more about the social structure of different gender in the past. Basically, I know there are “tradition” concepts to restrict women statues. For example, Edna’s job should be taking care of her children and her husband. However, the main reason that she married with her husband is not they both fall in love, the main reason is based on the family pressure, such as financial problems or social norms. However, in this book, I know that there are not all the women would like to face to their faith. Women would fight for their rights or they would do something to against the faith. Somehow, the character of this book is a little bit reflects the author. They also break the social norms and want to be independent.

The Awakening

What I have found interesting in Kate Chopin's The Awakening is the dichotomy between the symbols present in the novel. Since the beginning of the novel, caged birds (Madame Lebrun's parrot and mockingbird) represent the limited abilities of women during this time period. Although Edna attempts to escape her responsibilities as a mother and a wife by living in the pigeon house, the pigeon house symbolizes yet another inability because it fails to remove her from her former life. On the other hand, the sea in the novel represents liberty and Edna's moments of escape from the reality. It is the ocean where Edna first discovers her own strength and freedom by being able to swim successfully. In water, she is reminded of her position as a human being rather than part of the reality that surrounds her. Also, her success in swimming represents the rebirth in her, which results her transformation in attempts to obtain more independence and solitude.

Considering that the sea symbolizes freedom, does Edna's suicide represent her liberating triumph or rather her surrender to the limitations around her?

The Awakening

In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, I found it interesting that Madame Ratignolle foreshadowed the fact that Edna Pontellier would take Robert’s actions seriously. The book explained that in the past, Robert had doted upon other Creole women, but none had truly taken his advances to mean anything. Therefore, nothing ever happened between Robert and any of the wives. However, since Edna was an outsider within the Creole ranks, she was more susceptible to his charms. Even though she at first believed the idea of Robert being so attached to her would be “unacceptable and annoying,” she eventually came to seek out Robert’s company. I believe that since Edna responded to Robert’s advances, this was the reason the relationship developed later on in the novel. Had Edna been just like the Creole women and forsaken Robert’s companionship, Robert would have gone on to develop an interest in another woman the next summer.
Question: Why is it that none of the other women responded to Robert’s advances in the same way as Edna? Is it simply because she was not a Creole or is it because she saw other men of interest in her life “melt away?”

Blog Assignment

What are examples of symbolism in Kate Chopin's The Awakening?

There are many examples of symbolism in The Awakening, but the ones that seem to stand out the most are the symbols of the sea and the birds. Both the sea and the birds represent freedom to Edna and probably to most women in the Victorian Era. Like the birds, the women's movements and decisions are limited by society. As the novel begins, Kate Chopin compares Edna and other Victorian women to the birds in the bird cages, trapped. For Edna, this is not a big deal at first because she does not know what she is missing and has not yet begun to awaken. Edna has everything and is well taken care of by her husband; she is not wanting for anything materially but still trapped. Edna cannot fly away to freedom; she is tied by social constraints and especially by her family. When she tries to escape from her lifestyle after her realization, she goes to a pidgeon house, which is also indicative of her still restricted lifestyle. The ocean also is a symbol of freedom to her. She is very elated to learn how to swim and sees this as a huge achievement and also at the end of the novel uses the ocean as what seems to her, the ultimate freedom.

The Awakening

In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, Edna is the rebellious woman so unseen in that time. Women were supposed to be submissive and content in their male dominated world; Edna was not. It is interesting to me how far society has come since then, something so “radical” back then is now mundane. Divorce rates are up and adultery is common, yet the yearning women have for “more” is ever present. Even in today’s time when women have more rights than ever, there is still a push from feminists to do more, be more, and want more. I myself have never thought that there were things that I couldn’t have just because of my sex, and it saddens me to think that women of Edna’s time didn’t have that same kind of freedom, and in the same sense I revere Edna for not letting social constraints stop her from pursuing what she wanted and what she thought would make her content.
It interests me that Edna got married and had children because she felt compelled to by society, it is for this very reason that she ends up ultimately leaving her husband and children. It seem to me that the social constraints placed on her forced her to do things that hurt other people, because she wasn’t doing things for herself, only for other people. This was such a negative impact on her husband and children and disheartening to hear, but I think that it would have been avoided if society had fostered a more supportive atmosphere for women to pursue their own happiness. I am glad that in today’s time women have the freedom to do so, and so possibly some husbands and children were spared the same hurt Edna’s husband and children experienced. I personally blame the social constraints in Edna’s time for her actions and the hurt she put on her family.
Question: Do you think that families themselves have benefited from the independence and freedom women have accrued over the years? More so, do you think that bad family situations have lessened because of the women’s revolution, or that families have actually suffered because their mothers are encouraged to be independent and pursue their own happiness?

Blog #5 Erin Walker

Question: How does Edna reject the ideal family structure and values of the 1900’s?

 

The family structure that reigned during the 1900s focused on the distinct roles of the mother and the father.  The father was supposed to be the provider.  He was to work and bring in an income to support his family.  The wives and mothers in the family had the sole responsibility to care for the home and their children.  The mother’s power in the household would be secondary to the father’s authoritative status.  In many families of the 1900s, the wife/mother was seen as an object of the father’s, which would further place the wife/mother in a powerless position.  Throughout the novel The Awakening, Edna rejects the objectification of most women in family structures.  Not only does Edna refuse to be identified as the mother of her children (she loves her children very much, but would not give up herself for your children), but Edna also moves out of the home to further challenge the “ideal” physical familial structure.  Edna seeks to find her own identity through her self-discovery rather than following the trend of letting her other family members define who she is.  Although the other characters of the book deem Leonce, Edna’s husband, to be the best husband in the world, Edna disagrees.  Perhaps most women find him to be the best husband because he adheres to the definition of husband/father of the 1900’s.  However, as Edna seeks autonomy and independence as a woman (rather than the notion of the “mother-woman”), she is repelled by Leonce’s behavior and contribution to the objectification of women.  Chopin also includes the fact that Edna married out of obligation, which sets the stage for Edna’s rejection of the presiding norms revolving around familial structure and relationships.  Through her actions, Edna clearly rejects the subservient, passive nature of the woman-mother figure that is idolized in the early 1900s.

The Awakening

I thought that the whole story line of The Awakening was intriguing. It must have been really difficult for Kate Chopin to write about something that would appear so outlandish in this time. I have to admire people who have the determination to make their opinions known in order for them to bring about change. I felt that the concept of Edna's awakening and her transformation from being an object to being a subject with an active role in her life was interesting and inspiring. However, I don't believe that suicide was the answer to the problems that Edna was facing. Although, I believe that it was a strong, radical, message that reinforced Chopin's purpose in writing the novel. Edna can be a role model in the respect that she is not willing to submit herself to a man's dominance. She takes a stand on women's individuality by speaking up for herself, especially at the end of the novel when she says "I'm not going to be forced into doing things" (Chopin 111). Robert is even taken aback by Edna's lack of a need to be "owned" by a man, as he dreamed about the day when he could "own" her himself.However, I believe that a mother should be more willing to give more of herself for her children, unlike Edna, who claimed that she was unwilling to give herself for her children.

I thought it was interesting that Professor Messner introduced the idea of individual acts of creative rebellion. Although I wouldn't necessarily consider it creative, Edna's suicide certainly stands out as an act of rebellion against the social mores that she was expected to uphold. The Awakening itself is an individual act of creative rebellion. I also found it interesting that Professor Messner highlighted the need for these individual acts to be combined with an organized movement so that the collective efforts of these will all be able to transform the values of society.

I would ask "What would have happened if Robert didn't leave?"

the Awakening

Question:
How does Chopin describe Edna’s process from being a subject to her husband to be an independent woman? With a notice, how the racism in the book shown? What some symbolism in the book?

Comment: The awakening shows us the story how Edna to be an independent woman through out her lives. In the book, Chopin starts with the parrot in the cage in the beginning. It symbols Edna’s life that is constrained by the society and people around her. However, Edna is looking for a life for herself. She is not a mother figure at all who is supposed to be a housewife rather looking for something else outside. She hides her sexuality because she is afraid of being isolated by the society. Meize is her role model but she is afraid of being her because she might be alone all life long. She wants to be an artist, express her ideas and doing what she wants to do. In order to demonstrate herself, she learns to how to swim, listening to Meize playing piano and rent a house to live on her own. Finally, she figures out how she is going to do to be independent

The Awakening

The initial metaphor of the bird trapped in the cage carries through the novel as Edna being trapped by her surroundings from a feminist point of view. Various aspects of her life stifle her such as her husband, children, and, especially, the social responsibility she holds as a women. She is neither required to educate herself and go into the work force not to devote herself to household as she has employees to take care of that. Edna is respectable due to her individuality and conviction to stay true to herself and not worry about societal implications. She does what she wishes and does not let herself be negatively affected by what people attempt to demand of her. She is constantly doubted and criticized by her husband, not wanting his ‘property’ to be damaged or out of the ordinary. She is not willing to lose herself to society, her husband, or her children. She is willing to give up her belongings and any material possession for her children and even give her own life. However, she is not willing to give up herself; she is not willing to lose her identity for her children. This is an admirable trait of Edna as she is committed to holding true to her own personality, yet, at times, it is very selfish of her. In the beginning, when her husband begs her to go check up on their children, she is very unwilling to do so, and, when she finally does, she has little concern for children. She does not have a consistent care for them when she is not around them and does not dote on her children. She is the exact opposite of Adele, however, this is only good to a certain extent. If Edna showed a bit more concern yet still held true to her own set of beliefs, she would be more admirable of a mother. Simply not performing the tasks expected of her does not make her a strong character but rather one to ignore her responsibilities, the most important being her children.

            Does Edna’s individuality prevent her from being a compassionate mother responsible for caring for them? Does her dedication to preserving her identity cause her to be irresponsible and careless to any degree?

The Awakening

This book seems to represent the independence of a woman (or women, in general) in a negative light. At the beginning of the novel, Edna is on a vacation with her husband and children and she is portrayed as dependent because she has a family and she has to take care of the children. Furthermore, Chopin describes that Edna has an identity created within her family. However, Edna finds her own individual identity separate from her husband and children which was partially "inspired" by Edna's relationship and interaction with Adele. Since Adele was the epitome of womanly elegance, she had no problem conforming to the identity of being a wife and mother. On the other hand, Edna did not feel this way and the relationship between Edna and Adele sparks this epiphany that Edna must find her individual identity and become independent. I find it interesting that Edna did not feel independent whilst being a wife and a mother. In addition, I bring up the notion that women's independence is cast in a negative light because of the actions that Edna performs while searching for her independence, including outwardly looking for someone to satisfy her sexual needs (adultery) since her husband is always away on business matters. Furthermore, she becomes close with Robert, but Robert refuses to engage in an adulterous relationship with her. Edna and Robert's contrast of values and morals is also interesting. Typically, women are supposed to "do the right thing", but in this case, Edna is breaking all kinds of rules during her search for independence. Lastly, she commits suicide at the end of the novel, leaving her children all alone - but she justifies this action by telling herself that she has not been there for her children much anyways, so it would not make a huge difference.

So why is it that Edna's independence is cast in a negative light instead of portrayed as a positive thing? And why do you think Edna and Adele's relationship sparked Edna to find her own identity and independence instead of motivating her to become a great wife and mother?

The Awakening

After learning about Kate Chopin in class and reading The Awakening, I was intrigued by her writing and wanted to learn more about her. So, after doing some research I found that she had strong independent women as role models in her childhood and consequently she herself was one therefore this reflected in her characters, like Edna. Chopin only wrote two books and The Awakening was her second, published at a time the feminist movement had only just begun and only gained momentum in certain parts of the country.

More specifically, Edna Pontellier was a women striving for things that her society didn’t believe she should be entitled to including freedom, individuality, love, sex, and equality. I feel this struggle is ageless and every woman has felt this way at some point in their lives - the desire to escape to find more, more meaning, more depth, more worth. For Edna, despite being reminded by her husband that she should be happy and fulfilled by her role as wife and mother to their children, she is unable to find the contentment. It is interesting when Edna realizes in the book that there is nothing wrong with wanting more in her life and that really what’s wrong are the rules she must live by.

I have a few questions…How are mothers represented in The Awakening? What about single/independent women? Do you think Edna is a good role model to young women today and why/why not? If you were to meet Edna Pontellier, what would you ask her and say to her in response to her actions? And If the Awakening were to be turned into a movie today which actress do you believe would do Edna’s character justice? Why?

The Awakening

From a modern perspective, The Awakening is not excessively scandalous nor revolutionary. As extramarital affairs are commonplace in both everyday life and the media, the story of a woman falling in love with a man other than her husband is not appalling or unheard. However, when Edna Pontellier's story is analyzed utilizing the mentality of Kate Chopin's age cohorts, the topic becomes progressive. Compared to Adele Ratignolle, Edna is everything that a women should not be. She does not care for her children: when her husband comments that their son is ill, she declares that he is fine without really checking on him or showing any care. Edna is not a doting wife: she falls in love with another man and refuses to respond to her husband's commands. While Adele adheres to the quintessential domestic ideal, Edna defies it. Interestingly, by today's standards, Adele is the unusual one. Edna represents the makings of the strong, independent woman who feminists admire. Adele, on the other hand, is the subservient housewife who lives off of her husband's success. By demonstrating that this was once the ideal, The Awakening indirectly highlights the changes that society has undergone.

The notions about the role of the female highlighted in Kate Chopin's The Awakening were revolutionary for their time. If Kate Chopin were to be writing in the present day, how would the presentation about the role of women be the same? How would it differ?

The Awakening

Kate Chopin brought up a taboo issue back in the day and seemed to agree with it, which stirred criticisms from the media. However, today the story of women infidelity is not as shocking anymore. I think that the story really marks an awakening in the history where women, previously constricted in a tedious marriage life and limiting social norms, were starting to become more independent, bold, and free to do one’s passions. Edna Pontellier’s character actually possesses many admirable qualities that many women would want to achieve: independent, somewhat rebellious, yet passionate and courageous. Her courageous step to break out of the stereotypes and the women expectations could make her seem like a hero or a role model for other women in that era, who were taught to be conformist and submissive. I feel that the ‘self-actualization’ that Edna experienced is still applicable today. Women can still relate to this experience and in various ways, which is probably one of the reasons why this book is a classic.

Question: What does committing suicide have to do with the awakening?

The Awakening

I think the most interesting part of The Awakening is how Mr. Pontellier reacts to his wife's actions. He is clearly concerned about his wife, as he goes to see the doctor, but he seems content to just let her do her own thing. It seems to me that in this time where the husband was supposed to have complete control over the wife that Mr. Pontellier would do more to keep his wife close. It seems possible that maybe he was just ignoring her actions, hoping that she would just snap out of it and that nothing bad would happen.

One question I had was about the relationship between Edna and Madame Ratignolle. As professor Messner discussed in class, it was not uncommon for women at the time to have very close relationships. At what point in history did this sort of relationship gain the stigma that it has today?

The Awakening

For me, "The Awakening" clearly subverts the gender norm of male dominance and female submissiveness through the character Edna Pontellier. During those times, men are supposed to be dominating and in control of women's life and decisions. However, after reading the book, I feel that Mrs. Pontellier is more dominant from her husband and she has freedom and independence in making her own decisions and doing what she wants to do. For example, Edna is able to make the decision to move to a smaller house and not go inside the house when his husband told her to do so. Mrs. Pontellier is also not a traditional subordinate housewife who just stay in the house, nurture her children, cook and serve her husband, etc. She was able to find other useful things for her to do, she went out to meet and hang out with her friends and find her passions in art. I feel that this book supports and emphasize on women's power, independence, and dominance.

This book raised a lot of questions for me. Were there a lot of other women during those time who are as independent as Mrs. Pontellier? What were the society's reactions to dominant woman like Mrs. Pontellier? Were the gender norms of male dominance, female submissiveness, and female's nurturing roles in the household, clearly and strictly applied? If the norms exist then how could Mrs. Pontellier able to subvert these norms by not being submissive to her husband and give the role of nurturing her children to the maids and she spent most of her time out of the house having affairs and hanging out with her friends? Were affairs allowed? What is the author's main purpose in portraying the main character in these way?

Blog Assignment #5

In the middle part, the book does not really discuss whether Mr. Pontellier is aware of the seemingly affair between his wife and Robert Lebrun. For me, I think Mr. Pontellier is more of ignoring the fact of the matter (hoping that it would not be true) rather than being unaware of the reality. Moreover, the fact that Mrs. Pontellier was given so much freedom regarding her actions with other men, in the household, as well as decisions was just unreal for that time. It is amazing to see that despite the common norms then, where the women are supposed to follow the men, there has always been revolutionary women who stood up for themselves, such as Ms. Pontellier. In a way, she practiced feminism and contributed to the feminism phase even before these terms were popularly used or even recognized.

Question: Does the title "The Awakening" signify the revolution for only a few as mentioned in the book, or does it symbolize a bigger picture?

Blog Assignment - "The Awakening"

One thing about the novel that I found interesting was how it explores the fine line between between taking care of your own needs and desires and taking care of the needs and desires of those that you care about. Upon her introduction to the Creole culture and through the development of her relationships with Adele, Robert and Madame Reisz, she was able to rediscover the dreams and interests that she had set aside for the benefit of her family. Although this new freedom made her more independent and allowed her to better enjoy her life, it also caused her to begin to neglect her responsibilities as a mother and wife. From a femenist standpoint, her refusal to perform the duties expected of her as a mother and wife show that she is independent and places a great deal of importance on her own self-development and happiness. Those are positive things- but from a practical view, I believe that she was wrong to completely neglect her responsibilities- especially her responsibility to her children. All in all, Edna was simply a woman whose beliefs were before her time and her suicide and selfish behavior were both the products of the mixture of sadness, guilt and confusion she experienced throughout her life.

Question:
What causes Edna to become so distant from her family? What does her family and her obligations to her family members represent?

It is interesting to read how Edna rediscovers herself without using the social restrictions of the society that she has been living under. Because she is a woman, Edna is expected to devote herself to both marriage and motherhood. Edna finds that she is not content with playing these roles so she goes outside of social boundaries and follows her curiosity and desires. There was one symbolic moment that comes to mind that helps to depict her rebellion toward social confinement and it was when she swam out into the ocean for the first time after being so afraid to do so.

What other symbolic aspects within The Awakening help to portray what Edna is going through in the story?

the awakening

Question: Does Edna's relationship with Arobin, while she is supposedly in love with Robert, cause her to lose some of her credibility as a woman who is justly sick of her marriage?

Comment: Edna's character creates a kind of paradox of many female gender norms. On the one hand, she values her own independence and wants to exist without being held back by her husband. On the other hand, she lets her actions be determined by the men in her life, and is never actually without a male character who keeps her company. Also, Edna does not view her children in a typically feminine or nurturing way, and often acts discordantly with the view of an ideal wife. However, she is always described as being beautiful and feminine, and finds it very important to approach unpleasant topics with delicacy when in public. I feel as if this paradox represents the author's position. Although Kate Chopin was clearly filled with ideas that were very revolutional at the time, she was also completely absorbed in a society where women filled a very specific role.

The Awakening Blog

Reading The Awakening again, after having read it in high school, was certainly a different experience. Since then I have read numerous other books that not only add to my current knowledge but also inform previous knowledge or books that I've read. Specifically, I find the circumstances, or perhaps the general dilemma, of Edna's life similar to that of April Wheeler in the book "Revolutionary Road". Both of these women struggle with the limitations and thus the consequences of domestic life and the standards established by the culture and society of each of their respective times. However, even though these women are separated by decades of history and change - the Victorian Era and the 1960's - they still struggle with these base issues of femininity, gender, gender roles, and numerous other issues tied to familial expectations... their personal plights however are merely viewed through different historical contexts. Still, despite the generations of thought and progress that span between them, they both meet an outcome that is self-inflicted and rather tragic. I find this to be incredibly intriguing, because it only emphasizes the fact that despite how much we as a culture or society may think we change or progress in terms of our ways of thinking, specifically with gender, the base issues and struggles are always there and always affect us. Granted, these stories are fictional... still they are born from a reaction to real life circumstances.

My question therefore is: What other connections between female characters through out literature can you think of that are similar or different to Edna's and April's? Do you think that the change of time and progress of culture and ways of thinking can ever alleviate these base issues that women like this face? Or are these struggles and plight's that women... and maybe even men... will continue to face regardless of how much we may come to understand about it?

"The Awakening" Blog

Comment: In the beginning and the middle of the storyline, Edna Pontellier is portrayed as an independent woman who goes after what she wants—someone who many people would call a feminist. However, towards the end of the book, I got the impression that she was selfish more than anything else. She did whatever she pleased and did not take the feelings and emotions of others into consideration: her husband’s worries, Arobin’s sincere feelings, and her children’s needs. When she was in her state of depression after Robert left her, she said that she “understood now clearly what she had meant long ago when she said to Adele Ratignolle that she would give up the unessential, but she would never sacrifice herself for her children” (108). She put herself over everyone else—even her children. Moreover, I felt like her final act was an indication of both her selfishness and weakness.

Question: How does The Awakening and/or the character of Edna Pontellier reflect the life of Kate Chopin?

I really enjoyed the story in the Awakening because it showed how Edna went from being a conservative, quiet woman to a woman who embraced as much freedom as possible. Her relationship with Robert inspired her to believe that she didn't need to be submissive to her husband and could rather break away from the place she no longer wanted to be. The story line displayed how Edna, being a woman, had the strength and courage of breaking away from her "socially acceptable" position as a housewife and a mother and becoming a rebellious woman by having an affair. It was interesting how the book displayed an extreme contrast between the Edna before she met Robert and the Edna after she met Robert; one man led all the changes to make her a better person but her husband was less than satisfactory to provide her needs.

This last statement leads to my question: Isn't it ironic that it was a man who inspired Edna to be free and independent when it was a man who constrained her to be submissive and reserved in the first place? If yes, why?

The Awakening

While talking to Robert about the intentions of his spur of the moment trip to Mexico, Edna says, “I suppose this is what you would call unwomanly; but I have into a habit of expressing myself. It doesn’t matter to me, and you may think me unwomanly if you like” (100). I like this quote immensely, and I feel it accurately sums up all that Edna represents in The Awakening. She does not play the subdued wife and mother who always succumbs to her husbands wishes. On the contrary, Edna Pontillier is a strong woman who represents independence and free will. She opts to move houses and throws lavish parties. She leaves her children in order to go out on her own and find herself. She has flings with more than one man. She has a “habit of expressing [herself]”, unfiltered and sometimes uncontrollable.
            One question I have is about the significance of the character, Arobin. Chopin shows Edna Pontillier as a woman who goes after what she wants and who isn’t afraid of defying social norms. After reading the novel, we find out that Edna is truly passionate for Robert, thus performing an act of infidelity. Why, then, is Arobin’s character important? She shows some interest in him, yet nothing as strong as Robert, which makes Arobin seem somewhat insignificant. 

Why? The Awakening

My question: Why was this book was banned from the library (other than the ending). Was it because she was not a good wife? or because she did not want to participate in the duties that were expected of her in society? her negligence? the sexual implications?

The aspect of the man in the family needing to be more "masculine" within the home, as Professor Messner mentioned, is seen in this novel. Mr. Pontellier is a broker--someone who is urbanized and is confined within an office and as a result, must show his masculinity at home. However, when he sees that his wife is not submissive to him, and is someone who has a mind of her own, he feels lost and insecure. He wants to be viewed as the perfect husband as he sends her extravagant gifts while he is away to Edna, but he does not see how unhappy she is because he thinks that by meeting the expectations of society will give him and his wife happiness--which it clearly does not.

The Awakening

Question: How come it was so accepted that women have extremely friendly relationships that today can be construed as lesbian-ish? How did this shift occur?


Comment: I think it is interesting to see how, although Mrs. Pontellier is inside and basically immersed in the Creole tradition and culture, she is really an outsider-within because she herself is not Creole and is not accustomed to many of their behaviors still to that day. I wonder how the Creole people feel about her not really being part of "them" culturally-wise. I like how Chopin allows the reader to know Mrs. Pontellier's thoughts because it creates this divide among gendered, racial, and sometimes class lines which is what we had been discussing in class.