The Social Norm In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Nineteenth century, a century that urged women to attain a sense of self awareness and dignity. The Awakening, published in 1899, was labeled as morbid, disagreeable, and vulgar, which then went through a massive controversy that led to the book being widely condemned. “Modern critics praise The Awakening for its daring treatment of traditional gender roles as they were defined at the turn of the century, and for its exploration of a woman's search for self-fulfillment.” states Suzanne D. Green. Kate Chopin deliberately uses the theme of individualism vs. society to explain how the protagonist (Edna) rebels against society while incorporating still incorporating her antithesis, Madame

I agree with the statement that “we are well satisfied when Mrs. Pontellier deliberately swims out to her death in the waters of the gulf.” Pontellier had many lovers but still chose the one that she had the least amount of feelings for, Leonce. Edna Pontellier sends her children off to their grandparent’s house because her life is getting to hard to balance her random romances as well as with her children. I believe this to be extremely self-fish especially since she is already married. The person writing the review obviously thinks that if the author of the book would have made Edna Pontellier more likeable all of the readers would have been surprised or not have been excited when she ends up killing herself in the end. He also believes in

In Kate Chopin’s novel, “The Awakening,” it takes the reader back to the 19th century when society had a defined meaning of what it was meant to be a woman. During the time that Chopin published her book in 1899 women were expected to stay home and take care of their husbands and children. By this means, society had implied that women were only allowed to act certain ways and do certain things; otherwise, they were thought to be senile. In the “The Awakening,” Edna Pontellier undergoes a dramatic change of self-realization, denying her role as a mother and wife. Edna awakens to discover her own identity seeing the world around her in a new perspective forgetting the roles that have been determine by society and ignoring the consequences to

Social expectations have affected people throughout the years, however, they have changed as time has progressed. Today, women specifically may be labeled by their body size or the way they speak, being cast out of society and even being subjected to physical and/or emotional abuse. In the nineteenth century, women faced harsh discrimination by white men that objectified them and forced them to submit to their husbands and tend to their every need. Today, more women would not subject themselves to this sort of traditionalism, however, many found themselves fulfilling the role without protest and enjoying the simplicity of such a life back in the 1800s. Edna Pontellier refused to be one of these obedient women, deciding to instead follow a path of discovery that allowed her to find herself by being independent of her husband and of society. In The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Edna Pontellier expresses a woman who refuses to bow down to societal expectations, rather freeing herself from those chains and becoming the embodiment of her true identity. Chopin is able to illustrate this theme through an exquisite use of symbolism, sensory imagery, and juxtaposition.

Kate Chopin's The Awakening is truly a novel that stands out from the rest. From the moment it was published, it has been caused women to examine their beliefs. The fact that The Awakening was shunned when first published, yet now taught in classrooms across the country is proof that The Awakening is full of rebellious and controversial ideas.

More often than one is consciously aware of, society binds its citizens to a set of unspoken laws. These unspoken laws, similar to the purpose of government-enforced laws, balance the lifestyle of the people. These unspoken laws often refer to what's appropriate to act, speak, and even wear in regards to each gender. In the 1800's, the unspoken laws of society were rooted to male domination and female submission. It was outrageous for a woman to act on her own, speak her mind, and dress as she pleases.

Kate Chopin’s The Awakening depicts a woman's struggle to find and assert herself within the cultural constraints of late 19th century America. Edna Pontellier’s journey is chronicled throughout the novel as she experiences a new sense of independence and expression of freedom that’s paralleled by her corresponding sense of conflict and despair through a series of fractured and convoluted relationships among friends, family, and societal customs. The term "awakening" is defined as the act or process of waking from sleep. Like her name “Pontellier”, which means “one who bridges,” it implies that Edna is in a transition between two worlds but not fully embedded in either. Edna is one whose mission is to begin the process of bridging two worlds: a world where women become wives and mothers or a world where women are exiled for their expressed individualism.

No matter how old we are, we have all heard the daunting phrase from our parents in which they respond to our complaint with, ‘life just isn’t fair’. Though it’s true life isn’t fair, for women living in the “dining-room servant” (Chopin 5) and “starched skirt” (Chopin 5) days, life was restricted to societal rules. In Kate Chopin's The Awakening, she demonstrates the impossibilities and hopelessness of women breaking the social norm by unfolding a story of a young married Mrs. Pontellier in which her goals in defiance ultimately costs her her life. Chopin highlights the “struggle over ideologies” (Sprinkle 1) by utilizing parallel incidents where the two outcomes exemplify the unfairness women faced.

Have you ever wondered what the lifestyles of Nineteenth Century women were like? Were they independent, career women or were they typical housewives that cooked, clean, watched the children, and catered to their husbands. Did the women of this era express themselves freely or did they just do what society expected of them? Kate Chopin was a female author who wrote several stories and two novels about women. One of her renowned works of art is The Awakening. This novel created great controversy and received negative criticism from literary critics due to Chopin's portrayal of women by Edna throughout the book.

Author Kate Chopin of The Awakening theorizes “That outward existence which conforms, the inward life that questions.” Margaret Atwood ponders upon this ideal in her Bildungsroman Cat’s Eye, in which protagonist Elaine Risley of a unique upbringing encounters life in a traditional school, in which her intrinsic values are tested by her so-called peers Cordelia, Grace, and Carol. The social conformity Elaine was forced to undergo caused her to lose herself in the process, creating the plot of the novel. Elaine’s changes in interaction, internal struggle of morality among her peers, and lack of supervision created the depressed state she portrayed throughout the novel. Had this deterioration of the self not been included in Cat’s Eye, the work

In The Awakening, Kate Chopin argues that social conventions and ideals are detrimental to the development of one’s true identity. In the Grand Isle society, a woman’s identity is based on that of her husband and the ideal “mother-woman” concept. Her society relies on everyone upholding the same values and conventions. Straying from the norm and experiencing an ‘awakening’ can lead to alienation and ostracizing labels such as mentally ill. Chopin’s quote, serves to further the idea that shedding society’s identity creates confusion and conflict between society’s expectations and who the person wishes to be.

Towards the end of the story, Armand burns Desiree's belonging. The blaze symbolizes both Armand's outrage and desire to free himself of Desiree. A blaze annihilates and eradicates. However this blaze additionally uncovers reality of Armand's past, as he finds the letter from his mother that uncovers her identity as women "who belongs to the race branded with slavery". (Chopin 10) Therefore, the bonfire not only symbolizes Armand's desire to get rid of Desiree's belongings but also recognizes the considerable misconception that Armand has made. Armand has obliterated his marriage, his spouse, and his child due to his hate for people having different skin color and prejudiced presumption. The bonfire, which he created to burned down all the belongings and memories he shared with his wife, also symbolized a fire he created within himself which ultimately led to destruction of his marriage and his family.

     The only other example of married life in the book is Mr. and Mrs. Ratignolle, who portray the traditional roles of married men and women of the time. Mr. Pontellier also seems to be a typical man of that society. Edna evidently was not. Mr. Pontellier knew this but had apparently not known before. This shows through in the complete lack of constructive communication between the two. If she had been able to communicate with her husband they may have been able to work something out that would be able to make Edna feel satisfied in her life. They could possibly have created some outlet for her feelings of frustration, while she upheld the responsibilities that she had tied herself to. Instead of this, she began to rebel, but she ended up crossing the line. When a mother has children she cannot simply decide they do not need care because she does not like to constantly play the role of a mother. Children are a responsibility. If Edna had not wanted children she should have told her husband and worked something out with him. They are much too big of a responsibility to completely disregard. Reception days are one issue and children are another. When she blew off her children she was going too far in her rebellion.

Today women have jobs, but only earn 77 cents to men's dollar.This may seem like a huge inequality, but it’s a quite an improvement from the victorian era.The oppression of women in the Awakening display what was expected of women in the victorian Era. The main character,Edna, tries to break away from society norms. Since this take place in the Victorian Era, Edna’s obligated to focus all her energy on her family. Her life involves domestic chores and the needs of her two sons and husband. Throughout the book, Edna battles with obeying societal demands or achieving her internal happiness. Kate Chopin’s The Awakening elucidates that though society has a myriad of expectations for women. For someone to realize their inner self, they mustn't

Likewise, she buys her own house against her husband’s will. He advises that she does not buy the house because it can be seen as a sign of loss of wealth, but his real reasoning is that Edna may become too independent in her new house. Ignoring her husband’s orders proves that Mrs. Pontellier is a feminist because she does not follow the rest of the society’s women who do adhere to their