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The Awakening - Kate Chopin...

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Major Works Data Sheet: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism. Title: The Awakening

Biographical information about the author:

Author: Kate Chopin Date of Publication: April 22, 1899 Genre: Romance Novel Historical information about the period of publication or setting of the novel:

o Set in New Orleans and the Gulf coast in the 1890s o Reflects on creole culture during the 19 th century o Social norms (such as women’s role in society) were being altered o Louisiana Code stated that Creole women were properties and a representation of their husband’s wealth

o She was one of 5 children o She was sent to a Catholic boarding school, but a little while after her father died in a train accident, she was sent home to live with her other family o Because she was constantly surrounded by intelligent, independent women, she grew to be independent. o She began writing fiction as a way to develop and express her strong views on women, sex, and marriage while supporting her family

Characteristics of the genre:

o Emotional and optimistic ending o Focus is the relationships o Subgenres of romance include historical romance and fantasy romance

Plot Summary: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.

Page 2 The novel begins in Grand Isle, a place for the wealthy to go during the summer. During the day, the women typically spend their time on the island while the men all attend work in the city. Edna then meets a man named Robert Lebrun with whom she spends most of the summer, and a romantic interest begins to develop. During the time she spends with Robert, she begins to realize her wants and needs as an individual, and begins to yearn independence, which is contrary to her characteristics at the beginning of the book in which she was regarded as an obedient wife. One day, Edna and Robert decide to go on a day excursion to another island. This becomes a symbolic scene as Edna falls asleep for a while on the island, representing a metaphorical rebirth of self-discovery. After some time, Robert notices that he and Edna are spending too much time together and becoming too close, and he leaves the island for Vera Cruz, which greatly upsets Edna. Edna and her husband return to the city at the end of the summer. After noticing a change in Edna’s behavior, as she is not as obedient anymore, Leonce consults a doctor, who tells him to leave her alone. Edna also becomes aware of the fact that Robert had been writing letters to Mademoiselle Reisz about her, so Edna frequently visits her and listens to her play the piano. Edna then meets Arobin, a man with whom she develops a sexual interest in. Edna also begins to paint more as a way of expressing her individuality. One day she runs into Robert at Mademoiselle Reisz’, and they confess their love to each other. Then, she receives a call from Madame Ratignolle who is in labor, and Edna leaves to attend to her friend. When she comes back, she finds that Robert is gone forever. At the end of the novel, Edna goes back to Grand Isle and drowns herself.

Page 3 Major Works Data Sheet

Memorable Quotes at least 3 – more is better Quotation

Significance

“A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul. She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before.”

This quote relates back to the theme of women and femininity in that Edna is wanting to break the conventional ideals of the time regarding a women’s role and preferred behavior in society.

“Even as a child she had lived her own small life all within herself. At a very early period she had apprehended instinctively the dual life—that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.”

During this novel, Edna struggles with her outer and inner personalities. The personality she displays outwardly is one that conforms to societal norms; however, on the inside she feels confined following societal expectations. As the novel progresses, Edna begins to embrace her Outer self more and more.

“Edna looked straight before her with a selfabsorbed expression upon her face. She felt no interest in anything about her. The street, the children, the fruit vender, the flowers growing there under her eyes, were all part and parcel of an alien world which had suddenly become antagonistic.”

This is an essential quote in that is marks that Edna now feels as society is her enemy, which changes her actions/behavior throughout the rest of the novel.

“But the beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing. How few of us ever emerge from such beginning! How many souls perish in its tumult!”

These lines are significant in that it describes the start of Edna’s awakening when she realizes that majority of people are stifled in life by simply following societal norms. Moreover, in this quote Edna highlights how so few people are able to escape society’s confinements.

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Page 5 Major Works Data Sheet

Characters Name

Role in the story

Significance

Adjectives

Edna Pontellier

Edna is the main character and protagonist of the novel.

She is the character who undergoes an “awakening” whereby she becomes more independent and however more isolated which ultimately leads to her suicide.

Independent, isolated, private, free-thinking, unorthodox

Léonce Pontellier

He is Edna’s husband, and he is a businessman who works majority of the time.

Alcée is very concerned with his family’s outward appearances and therefore is a major contributor to Edna’s awakening.

Charming, classic, wealthy, busy, materialistic

Alcée Arobin

Arobin is the man who Edna has an affair with. He becomes her love interest, and Edna view him as more exciting and passionate than her husband.

Arobin is also a contributor to Edna’s awakening in that he allows Edna to see that Alcée cannot control her.

She is a pianist who befriends Edna and conveys to Edna that living independently. Perhaps the most important piece of evidence she gives Edna is that in order to be independent, she must be brave.

Mademoiselle is perhaps the largest contributor to Edna’s awakening in that she lives independently and serves as a confidante to Edna.

Mademoiselle Reisz

Seductive, independent, alluring

Independent, pianist, artistic, unorthodox

Page 6 Major Works Data Sheet Setting The first half of the novel takes place in Grand Isle, an island off of the coast of Louisiana. The first half of the novel also takes place during the summer. After the summer vacation, the setting becomes the city, specifically Esplanade Street, on which Edna and her husband’s house is.

Significance of the opening scene The opening scene is significant for a number of reasons. The novel begins with a parrot shrieking at Leonce, which establishes the first symbol. The bird represents Edna and women, and because the bird is shrieking it is expressing Edna’s discontent with her husband and her standard of life in being an obedient wife. The opening scene is also significant in its setting. The first scene takes place on Grnad Isle, an island, and the ocean plays a major role in the novel. Furthermore, Edna returns to this very island at the end of the book and drowns herself. Symbols or Motifs (at least three) Significance of the ending / closing scene o Birds: Birds represent Edna and all women The closing scene portrays naked Edna wading and their struggle for their individuality. into the water, reflecting on the fact that no one For example, the opening scene opens with will be able to claim her anymore after her decision to drown herself. Edna then swims until a caged bird, expressing Edna’s caged she is exhausted and can swim no more, then feelings in which society confines her role drowns. This is significant because Edna has as a woman. finally come to means with herself as an o Ocean: This is a symbol that represents Edna’s desire of freedom and individuality. individual and the fact that she does not want to The first significant time the author notes please anyone anymore or succumb to society’s on her self-discovery is when she learns to role for women. In the water, she realizes that swim, and in the end, Edna wades into the nobody is in control of her but herself, and she drowns. ocean and drowns herself as she does not want to succumb to anybody’s standards but her own anymore. o Painting: Painting represents Edna’s newly discovered individuality as it is an activity that she does purely for herself throughout the novel, and only partakes in it after her “awakening.” Possible Themes – Topics of Discussion (elaborate) minimum of 3

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Page 7 Love- Love is not always confined to marriage, as it can extend far beyond that and can differ with the individual’s wants in life. This is established through Robert an Edna’s relationship, who are not married but come to love each other. However, they do not end up with each other as Edna wants individuality while he wants marriage. Women and Femininity- A women’s role extends far beyond the tasks society has defined for them such as to take care of the house and the family—women can be ambitions in their own ways and create their own paths. This is established throughout the novel namely through Edna’s love of painting, as this is an activity she does for herself and is outside of society’s explicit roles for women. Individuality- Although society has a confining role for women, an individual does not have to succumb to those roles and may do what pleases himself or herself. This is establishes throughout the novel as this novel is a story of self-discovery....