The Awakening Literary Analysis

In Kate Chopin's The Awakening, the protagonist Edna Pontellier rebels against social normities by leaving her husband Leónce and having an affair. The novel takes place in Grand Isle, an island off the coast of Louisiana. Over the summer it is inhabited by upper-class Creole families from New Orleans. On the weekends everyone relaxes and enjoys themselves, but as the week returns, men return their jobs in the city. During the summer, Edna meets a young man named Robert Lebrun, whose mother rents out the cottages on the island. They spend much of their time together, and Edna enjoys his company, since her husband is preoccupied with business. Because of Robert's presence, Edna develops a sense of herself as a whole person, with unique wants, …show more content…
At her great moment of awakening, she suddenly learns how to swim. She and Robert also spend a lot of time in and near the ocean. One day they take a spontaneous day trip to another island in a boat, and Edna undergoes a metaphorical rebirth when she falls asleep for on the island. When Robert realizes that he and Edna are becoming too close, he departs the island and goes to Vera Cruz for business prospects. Edna is upset when Robert leaves with only a few hours' notice, and becomes depressed after he leaves. That summer Edna also befriends the pregnant Madame Ratignolle, , and Mademoiselle Reisz, an unmarried old woman. The Pontelliers return to the city, where Leónce busies himself with making money and purchasing extravagant items for their house on Esplanade Street. At first Edna settles into her usual routine. Soon she stops taking callers, which frustrates her spouse. She starts to take up painting and starts behaving in an uncharacteristic manner. Confused, Leónce goes to Doctor Mandelet for advice. The doctor advises him to leave his wife alone, but he has suspicions that Edna may be in love with another …show more content…
Although Edna is not particularly close to her father, she finds him entertaining and devotes much time to him when he is present. After the Colonel's departure, Leónce and the children also leave Edna on her own. Leónce has extended business in New York, and the children go to stay with their grandmother in the country. Edna enjoys her new-found freedom and spends time with Alcée Arobin, a charming young man. She wins a great deal of money gambling, and her relationship with Arobin starts to border on the sexual. While visiting Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna decides that she is going to move out her home on Esplanade Street. With her gambling wins and the sale of her paintings, she has enough to support herself and intends to move to a smaller "pigeon house" just around the corner. That same day she hears that Robert is returning to New Orleans, and admits her love for the man. Later that day Edna sleeps with Arobin for the first time and feels many emotions, but none of which are shame. She throws a small dinner party to celebrate her birthday and her moving out of the house. Edna enjoys her new home: it makes her feel free from the usual social constraints. She continues her affair with Arobin, yet she does so without forming any real

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