The Awakening

By Kate Chopin

This was a pivotal novel for women and the feminist movement. First published in 1899 it was very unorthdox for the times and there was quite an uproar against the book and its young author.  The Awakening is the story of a young woman who decides that her conventional life isn't good enough for her anymore.

The story opens on Grand Isle, a vacation spot located off of the coast of Louisiana; the resort is popular with the prosperous Creole middle class.  Edna Pontellier is there with her husband Léonce and their two children. She quickly becomes fast friends with Robert Lebrun whose mother manages the resort.

Edna and Robert start developing feelings for each other and Edna begins to realize that her conventional life is not satisfying; she wants to be with Robert and be free to do whatever she wants rather than follow society's conventions.

Adéle Ratignolle is Edna's friend and the personification of the feminine ideal for the time.  She is sweet and kind and places the happiness of her husband and children over her own.  Adéle warns Robert not to play with Edna's feelings because she may well have serious emotions toward Robert.  Even though Robert is well known on the island for flirting outrageously with a married woman every summer he protests that he is serious about Edna. Adéle suspects that there is something between the two but says nothing.

"She was moved by a kind of commiseration for Madame Ratignolle- a pity for that colorless existence…in which she would never have the taste of life’s delirium."

But summer must end and with it goes Robert, overcome with his love for Edna and knowing that she is married and therefore unavailable by society's definition, he runs away to Mexico.  Edna must return to her home in New Orleans with her husband and children.

 “Robert’s going had some way taken the brightness, the color, the meaning out of everything… her whole existence was dulled..."

Edna's husband leaves for New York and her children visit their grandmother leaving Edna alone in a house filled with reminders of her husband and the world that she no longer wishes to live in. She meets Alcée Arobin, a young man who would gladly take Robert's place in Edna's affections.

Edna must soon make a decision about her life, especially when Robert returns and she discovers he still loves her...

This is a short novel, my version was 221 pages and the chapters are short. Throughout the first half of the story I was ambivalent about Edna but after she returns to New Orleans I decided I didn't like her. I felt like she placed her own happiness over common sense. I know that the point of her "awakening" is to learn to consider herself over giving everything up for someone who she may not even like, let alone love.

But, I felt like she could have acted in a way so that the story would not have ended the way it did.  Overall, I would recommend reading the book if just for a glimpse into the mindset of a woman frustrated with her lot.