The Awakening Essays (2034 words) - The Awakening, Edna, Grand Isle

The Awakening Carey Coco July 23, 1999 Dr. Jackson English 2070 Kate Chopin and Edna Pontellier as Feminists Kate Chopin is known for her literary works that depict culture in New Orleans, Louisiana, and of womens struggles for freedom. She was born Katherine OFlaherty in Missouri, and later married Oscar Chopin in 1870. He was a Creole cotton trader from New Orleans. Later they moved to a plantation near Cloutierville, Louisiana, where her husband died in 1882. She returned to Missouri with her six children, and began her writing career. She began writing mostly local color stories that earned her consideration as a contributor to Southern regional literature. She later began writing stories about womens need for independence and capacity for passion, such as The Story of an Hour and the well known The Awakening. Her stories of women developing sensuality and individuality attracted a storm of negative criticism. Her career was severely damaged by this and she only managed to publish three more stories, and they were not well received. (Seyersted, 15-19) At the end of the nineteenth century, American thoughts and beliefs were undergoing many changes. It was a period in which Americans were unsure about their feelings concerning the industrialization, urbanization, and changing social standards that were taking place. The first women's right convention was held in July of 1848, in New York. This was the beginning of the modern feminist movement. The women leaders pushed on until 1870, when the 15th Amendment allowed women the right to vote. (Seyersted, 45) This was also the year that Kate was married to Oscar Chopin. Noticing this we can realize how aware Chopin must have been of these changes, and how she used them to feel confident in allowing her novels to grow more liberal. This time of change also caused the awful reaction of The Awakening that Kate Chopin probably did not expect. Although the women in America were advancing, those in state of Louisiana were not. At the time the state operated under a different legal system than the rest of the country. Under the Louisiana Civil Code, article 1388, a woman was still the legal property of her husband, and the male had absolute (legal) control over the family. It also said, in article 1124, married women, babies, and the mentally ill were incompetent in making a legal contract. (Herman, 53) Wives were possessions to be cared for and displayed. They often brought a dowry or inherited wealth to a marriage. Like most of Chopins stories, The Awaking is set in the late 19th-century Creole society of the New Orleans area. It is the story of a young womans struggle to become herself. It concludes that the complete freedom and happiness that she yearns for is not available to her in socially appointed roles as a wife and mother. Edna Pontellier is married to her husband, Mr.Pontellier, a person whom she had married without love as an excuse (McQuade, 1661). The story opens during summer vacation at Grand Isle. This environment allows Edna to explore her own personality. It is on the island that Edna begins her awakening to life. She first realizes her dissatisfaction with her life. Then she learns the pleasure of swimming. It is on Grand Isle that she begins to feel sexual attraction to Robert, although her awakening to sexuality occurs months later. Edna also realizes that she is not a mother-woman this summer. She does love her two sons, but admits to Madame Ratignolle that she would never sacrifice herself for her children, or for anyone (McQuade, 1683). She distinguishes her person independent to the Edna that is a mother and wife. Although her husband, Leonce, would visit the island, Edna spent most of her time bonding with Robert Lebrun. She fell in love with him without even knowing it. Edna was able to be herself that summer. Not having to play all the roles her husband had provided her. Edna also bonded with two other women, Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz. She studied each of the womans life roles. Adele was clearly a mother-woman to her children and her husband. To Edna, Adele looks like a faultless Madonna. An Edna can see that Adele has chosen the roles that