Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening, is a story of a woman's struggle to find her own identity and independence in a society that is oppressive and restrictive. The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, is a married woman living in the late 19th century in Louisiana. She is a mother of two children and is married to a successful businessman. Despite her seemingly perfect life, Edna is not content and begins to feel a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction. Edna begins to explore her own desires and interests, which leads her to a passionate affair with a young man named Robert Lebrun. This affair causes Edna to further question her role in society and her marriage. She begins to explore her own identity and desires, which leads her to make a drastic decision to leave her husband and children and move to a small cottage by the sea. At the cottage, Edna is able to explore her newfound freedom and independence. She begins to paint and swim, activities that she had previously been forbidden from doing. However, Edna's newfound freedom is met with disapproval from her family and society, and she is eventually forced to confront the consequences of her actions. In the end, Edna makes a final decision to end her life, as she is unable to reconcile her newfound freedom with the expectations of society.
By Kate Chopin · First published 1899 · Genre: Realism, Feminism, Romance