Essay On Edna Pontellier's Suicide In The Awakening

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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 a character, with choosing to kill herself than simple take actions to herself and run away with the man she truly loved.Although her life ended in sorrow, Edna went through multiple awakenings, including her choice to die.
Edna was awakened from her roles as a mother. Before her realization one of Edna's faults were her careless mothering skills, Edna's children did not cling to her like Madame Ratignolle's, but only “quickly” came to her when in need and went “away”. Edna was naturally different from the …show more content…
Edna spent her entire life being dictated by others, “even as a child she had lived… the dual life” showing the world her“outward existence which conforms” while hiding her “inward life which questions” (Chopin 13). Edna had given up on her ideals of her husband and settled for Mr. Pontellier “her marriage was purely an accident,” leaving her yet again alone and separated from herself (Chopin 16). Edna lived inside her head never truly displaying what she wanted for herself, until she killed herself. Although that action may seem to be an act of pure hopelessness, by killing herself Edna finally acted on what she wanted herself, thinking about her family yet not letting them weigh her down, like society has all her life. By committing suicide Edna's no longer stuck to the conformities, and oppressions, she's no longer like the old dog “chained to sycamore tree” that she sees moments before her death (Chopin 95). Edna's finally
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Character Analysis: The Awakening By Kate Chopin

The author, Kate Chopin, wrote a novel titled The Awakening, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana around 1899. In the story, the main character, Edna was a woman that seemed as if she wished to be self reliant, but wasn’t strong enough to venture out in the world alone. Throughout the novel, Chopin portrays Edna as a woman that doesn’t fit the views of society. Edna is influenced by others around her and she eventually tries to fly in her rugged world with wings that aren't strong enough to…

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