Edna Pontellier's The Awakening

Words: 187
Pages: 1
Open Document
Edna Pontellier story takes place in 1890s Louisiana, within the upper-class creole society. Edna and her family are vacationing for the summer on the grand isle, located in Louisiana shore near New Orleans. They are staying at a pension and also Ratignolle family are staying in the pension too. Adele is a close friend of Edna although their philosophies and attitudes are different from each other. Another character who was staying in the pension is the young and charming Robert Lebrun. He was a player, he has a different woman each summer but this summer he caught Edna attentions. As Edna in the process of finding herself, then Robert start encouraging her by indulging her emerging sensuality. Edna and Robert become infatuated with each other
Show More

Related Documents: Edna Pontellier's The Awakening

Edna Pontellier's The Awakening

In the process of awakening, Edna takes pains to individualize her body and wrests back the right of control over her body, during which the inscriptions of the female body by power and discipline are gradually eradicated. Now Edna sees the world with different eyes and makes new acquaintances of herself as if she had been born anew. As a woman who has a "sensuous susceptibility to the beauty"(14; ch.7), when Edna comes to the realization of her independent status and existence significance as an…

Words 2315 - Pages 10

Edna Pontellier's The Awakening

In the “awakening” by Kate Chopin, Edna Pontellier’s attempt at learning to swim is a metaphor for her journey of self-discovery and freedom. Initially, Edna’s worry about swimming mirrors her reluctance to break free from social expectations. As she’s going to the beach for her first lesson, the narrator describes her as being scared of getting wet and afraid she would sink. This fear correlates with her fear of embracing her own desires and her identity outside of being a wife and mother. However…

Words 263 - Pages 2

Edna Pontellier's Suicide In The Awakening

Edna Pontellier’s suicide through swimming into the sea, is her final awakening and strongest display of defiance to society’s confining norms. When Edna talks to Dr. Mandalet, she mentions that in order to attain her way of life she would be willing to “trample upon the lives, the hearts, the prejudices” of others (TA 105). But, she cannot trample upon those of her children. To Edna, her children would “drag her into the soul’s slavery for the rest of her days” by reminding her of her motherly duty…

Words 521 - Pages 3

Edna Pontellier's Sacrifice In 'The Awakening'

The Awakening, Kate Chopin explores a woman’s spiritual revolution through the character Edna Pontellier. Edna deliberately sacrifices, surrenders, or forfeits many things that are important to her, and in doing so highlights her values. Throughout her journey, she discovers herself through powerful experiences and influential characters. By the end of the dramatic novel, Edna is able to figure out who she is, but that she is unfortunately incapable of handling her true self. In The Awakening, self-discovery…

Words 1330 - Pages 6

Edna Pontellier's Suicide In The Awakening

The Awakening by Kate Chopin details the struggles of a woman in New Orleans in the late 19th century, fighting societal norms to defend her individual values. The societal ideals of the time were not tailored to the individual, so those who did not conform essentially drowned, their individuality choked out by expectations of how they believe they should be. Edna searches for her own identity, branching away from what society expects of her, which makes her happy but ends up causing complications…

Words 790 - Pages 4

Edna Pontellier's Awakening

Zavala 1 "The baptism of a soul leads to a new soul awakening". Living under the shadows of society women are deprived of their own rights. But such way of life can open doors to the unknown. Women's existence has been overshadowed by the social inequality upon them. In the novel “TheAwakening by Kate Chopin" protagonist Edna Pontellier becomes victimized by the rules and aspects of society that seem to chain her.Edna's destiny arose from the enlightenment of self-awareness. The ideals of music are…

Words 1848 - Pages 8

Edna Pontellier's The Awakening

Edna Pontellier is unhappy with her role as a wife and mother of two in the late nineteenth century. Her children are healthy and beautiful, her husband is one of the most patient men around, yet there is something missing from her domestic life. It is too bland, too monotonous, and Edna longs for something more—an independence too often out of reach from women in her position. The Awakening by Kate Chopin illustrates Edna’s development of self, as she learns to make her yearnings and curiosities…

Words 1251 - Pages 6

Edna Pontellier's The Awakening

Women from the Victorian Era, such as Edna Pontellier, do not have numerous opportunities to acquire their independence. In Chapter 10, Edna gains confidence and decides to go swimming for the first time. As a female figure from the Creole Society who is controlled in life, Edna discovers her own strength as she gets in the water and feels a sense of control over her body. Subsequently, in Chapter 26, Mrs. Pontellier confesses to Mademoiselle Reisz that she wants to leave the house and that she is…

Words 327 - Pages 2

Essay On Edna Pontellier's Character In The Awakening

The Awakening, three aspects of character development are demonstrated by Edna Pontellier. The first is Mrs. Pontellier’s longing for independence, which motivates her distinct series of actions. Next is one of the most revealing facets of Mrs. Pontellier - her poorly regarded priorities. And lastly, she experiences major depression and mood changes which exaggerate immensely when Robert moves away. Independence motivates the way Mrs. Pontellier begins to act. One day on the beach, Edna is swimming…

Words 582 - Pages 3

Essay On Edna Pontellier's Suicide In The Awakening

The Awakening by Kate Chopin discusses the shy and quiet life of Edna Pontellier. Telling her silent journey of self discovery, leading up to her ultimate decision of departure from her husband, and the holds of oppression. However all fell short, as she makes the decision to commit suicide, along with not essentially being the most relatable, self righteous protagonist many books display. Instead Edna's thoughts makes one constantly raise the question of whether or not she had truly developed as…

Words 639 - Pages 3