The Awakening Essay, Research Paper

The Awakening

Characters

Edna Pontellier

Edna is married to a man who expects perfection of her as a wife. He does so mostly because of the image he needs for success. She does not love him, and begins seeing other men: Alcee, her lover, and Robert, a man she adores. She then realizes she cannot truly be herself and still fulfill her role as a mother, and decides the only way out is suicide.

Alcee Arobin

He is the Don Juan of New Orleans, and makes a habit of conquering married women. He likes having full control, but Edna, in their sexual affair, does not give it to him, and in this one relationship, Edna has control.

Robert Ludlum

Edna falls in love with Robert, and he falls in love with her. However, his honor does not allow him to be an object of an affair, and believes that the marriage between Leonce and Edna decided her fate.

Mademoiselle Reisz

She is a gifted pianist, and more importantly a free woman. She is not bound to any man: she supports herself; therefore, she becomes Edna?s idol. Once Edna realizes that she wants to be free, she begins frequenting Mademoiselle Reisz to learn from her.

Setting

The Awakening takes place in New Orleans in the 1900?s. At this time, women were looked as suitable to be only mothers and wives, and their lives should be devoted to such occupations. The only other socially acceptable route for women was nunhood. Women that chose neither of these paths were severely looked down upon in society, almost to the point of being utter outcasts.

Essay Question

Was Edna?s problem resolvable by means other than suicide?

Themes

1)One must have the courage to be true to one?s self. Edna does not want to give up her individuality so much, that she is forced to commit suicide, for she has no means of retaining it as a mother.

2)Repression. The society around Edna forces women into only two alternate paths for their lives.

3)Self Discovery. Edna, after years of repression, realizes that her marriage was in fact not out of love, and discovers the side of her that yearns freedom. Mademoiselle Reisz is her guiding light in her search of freedom.

Quotes

?And the ladies?all declared that Mr. Pontellier was the best husband in the world. Mrs Pontellier was forced to admit that she knew of none better.? (p. 13)

The oppressive relationships like that of Edna were the status quo at the time of the novel; hence, Edna does not realize that there are better options, until she is inspired my Mademoiselle Reisz. Edna ?knew of none better?, because she was surrounded with men such as her husband.

?’You are burnt beyond recognition,’ he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of property which has suffered some damage” (p. 44)

In this quote it is particularly evident how Mr. Pontellier views his wife: as his property. He does not truly care about her, but cares solely about his image, and he does not want to have ?damaged property? for it will ruin his image.

“Good-bye -because I love you” (p. 172)

Robert is weak. He loves Edna, but is too weak and cowardly to take a chance since she is already married. He understands very well that she loves him most, but he cannot bring himself to go against his honorable upbringing.