The AwakeningThe Awakeningby Kate Chopinby Kate Chopin

Kate ChopinKate Chopin• born Kate O'Flaherty in St. born Kate O'Flaherty in St.

Louis, Missouri in 1850 to Eliza Louis, Missouri in 1850 to Eliza and Thomas O'Flaherty. and Thomas O'Flaherty.

• In 1870, at the age of twenty, In 1870, at the age of twenty, she married Oscar Chopin, she married Oscar Chopin, twenty-five, and the son of a twenty-five, and the son of a wealthy cotton-growing family wealthy cotton-growing family in Louisiana. He was French in Louisiana. He was French catholic in background, as was catholic in background, as was Kate. Kate.

• By all accounts he adored his By all accounts he adored his wife, admired her independence wife, admired her independence and intelligence, and "allowed" and intelligence, and "allowed" her unheard of freedom. her unheard of freedom.

• After their marriage they lived After their marriage they lived in New Orleans where she had in New Orleans where she had five boys and two girls, all five boys and two girls, all before before she was twenty-eight. she was twenty-eight.

Kate ChopinKate Chopin• Her first novel, At Fault, was published in 1890, Her first novel, At Fault, was published in 1890,

followed by two collections of her short stories, followed by two collections of her short stories, Bayou Folk in 1894 and A Night in Acadia in 1897. Bayou Folk in 1894 and A Night in Acadia in 1897.

• The Awakening was published in 1899, and by The Awakening was published in 1899, and by then she was well known as both a local colorist then she was well known as both a local colorist and a woman writer, and had published over one and a woman writer, and had published over one hundred stories, essays, and sketches in literary hundred stories, essays, and sketches in literary magazines. magazines.

• The content and message of The Awakening The content and message of The Awakening caused much controversy. So much that she was caused much controversy. So much that she was denied admission to the St. Lois Fine Art Club.denied admission to the St. Lois Fine Art Club.

• Like Edna in The Awakening, Kate was also Like Edna in The Awakening, Kate was also seeking artistic development until she died of a seeking artistic development until she died of a cerebral hemorrhage on August 22, 1904. cerebral hemorrhage on August 22, 1904.

Setting and Social Setting and Social BackgroundBackground• Grand Isle and New Grand Isle and New

Orleans, LA – circa 1899 Orleans, LA – circa 1899 are the two settingsare the two settings

• New Orleans – Catholic, New Orleans – Catholic, French, with a great deal French, with a great deal of interracial mixing – is a of interracial mixing – is a relatively easy-going relatively easy-going society. society.

• Husbands are NOT overly Husbands are NOT overly jealous of the attentions jealous of the attentions that their wives receive that their wives receive from other men. Women from other men. Women do not place too much do not place too much credence on these credence on these attentions.attentions.

• ..

Character Analysis Character Analysis Edna PontellierEdna Pontellier

• Edna is a Southern Presbyterian Edna is a Southern Presbyterian who contrasts with her husband who contrasts with her husband who is a Creole. who is a Creole.

• young mother in her late young mother in her late twenties, who over a period of twenties, who over a period of months awakens to her own months awakens to her own sexuality. sexuality.

• She rebels against the New She rebels against the New Orleans social system by Orleans social system by abandoning her role as a abandoning her role as a “trophy wife” and as a mother.“trophy wife” and as a mother.

Character Analysis Character Analysis Leonce PontellierLeonce Pontellier

• Edna’s husband who Edna’s husband who is somewhat is somewhat prudishprudish

• believes Edna is his believes Edna is his property because property because she is his wife. she is his wife.

• He is a successful He is a successful business man of New business man of New Orleans.Orleans.

Character Analysis Character Analysis Mademoiselle ReiszMademoiselle Reisz

• A self-sufficient and A self-sufficient and unconventional old pianist unconventional old pianist who adopts Edna as a sort who adopts Edna as a sort of protégé, warning Edna of of protégé, warning Edna of the sacrifices required of an the sacrifices required of an artist. artist.

• Edna is moved by Edna is moved by Mademoiselle Reisz’s piano Mademoiselle Reisz’s piano playing and visits her often. playing and visits her often.

• Edna looks up to Reisz.Edna looks up to Reisz.

Character Analysis Character Analysis Dr. MandeletDr. Mandelet

• He is hired by Leonce to He is hired by Leonce to understand why Edna is understand why Edna is rebelling her duties as a rebelling her duties as a wife. wife.

• He suspects Edna is having He suspects Edna is having an affair (which she is) but an affair (which she is) but isn’t entirely sure.isn’t entirely sure.

Character Analysis Character Analysis Robert LebrunRobert Lebrun

• The love interest of Edna in The love interest of Edna in which she is very fond of which she is very fond of that devotes himself to that devotes himself to satisfying a woman every satisfying a woman every summer. summer.

• Edna is his interest for that Edna is his interest for that summer.summer.

Character Analysis Character Analysis Alcee ArobinAlcee Arobin

• The town seducer that The town seducer that Edna seeks an affair with Edna seeks an affair with after Robert goes out of after Robert goes out of town. town.

• Although he satisfies her Although he satisfies her sexual needs, she is only in sexual needs, she is only in love with Robert.love with Robert.

SummarySummary• Edna is the wife of a successful Edna is the wife of a successful Louisiana business man that Louisiana business man that seeks freedom from her duties seeks freedom from her duties as a wife and mother. as a wife and mother.

• She longs for an awakening She longs for an awakening and the ability to have a and the ability to have a choice which leads her to have choice which leads her to have an affair and abandon her an affair and abandon her family and responsibilities. family and responsibilities.

• This eventually takes her to This eventually takes her to her grave in the ocean for she her grave in the ocean for she was not able to accept her was not able to accept her place as a trophy wife.place as a trophy wife.

ThemesThemes• Flesh vs. Spirit- Edna learns to Flesh vs. Spirit- Edna learns to

swim, further experiencing the swim, further experiencing the power of the connection power of the connection between mind and body. between mind and body.

• Women as property- The Women as property- The Awakening chooses a time Awakening chooses a time period and culture which period and culture which regards women as the regards women as the property of their spouses. property of their spouses.

• The demands of society vs. The demands of society vs. the needs of individualsthe needs of individuals

• Escape from control- Edna Escape from control- Edna feels controlled by not only her feels controlled by not only her husband but society as well.husband but society as well.

ThemesThemesRepressed Feelings –Repressed Feelings –•almost everyone in the book repress their feelings almost everyone in the book repress their feelings and this repression has a significant impact on how and this repression has a significant impact on how the characters interact and how the plot develops.the characters interact and how the plot develops.• We are told very early that Leonce truly loves We are told very early that Leonce truly loves Edna. But does he tell her? Robert flees to Mexico Edna. But does he tell her? Robert flees to Mexico rather than express his love. On his return to New rather than express his love. On his return to New Orleans, he delays seeing her for the same reason.Orleans, he delays seeing her for the same reason.• Mademoiselle Reisz seems to possess an insight Mademoiselle Reisz seems to possess an insight into matters of the heart and soul yet she never into matters of the heart and soul yet she never reveals what in her past gives her this wisdom.reveals what in her past gives her this wisdom.• It is ultimately Edna’s inability to repress her It is ultimately Edna’s inability to repress her newly discovered feelings that drives her to suicide.newly discovered feelings that drives her to suicide.

ThemesThemesPersonal Freedom Personal Freedom •all of the characters are all of the characters are trapped by social expectations. trapped by social expectations. •The only characters who are The only characters who are not ( Victor, Mad. Reisz, and not ( Victor, Mad. Reisz, and Alcee) are criticized by others. Alcee) are criticized by others. •As Edna begins to gain a sense As Edna begins to gain a sense of personal freedom (evidenced of personal freedom (evidenced by her learning to swim, by her learning to swim, painting, bagging her “at home” painting, bagging her “at home” days, and moving out), she, too, days, and moving out), she, too, falls subject to gossip and falls subject to gossip and criticismcriticism

SymbolismSymbolismBirdsBirds• caged birds represent Edna’s caged birds represent Edna’s

entrapment. Edna is limited by society as entrapment. Edna is limited by society as birds are limited by their cages. The Victorian birds are limited by their cages. The Victorian women in general use their “wings” to women in general use their “wings” to protect and shield, never to fly as birds.protect and shield, never to fly as birds.

• the mockingbird and parrot symbolize the mockingbird and parrot symbolize various ineffective attempts at various ineffective attempts at communication.communication.

• both birds are best known for their imitation both birds are best known for their imitation of others, rather than having their own voice of others, rather than having their own voice – they cannot tell their own stories– they cannot tell their own stories

• the parrot screeches “Get out! Get out!” the parrot screeches “Get out! Get out!” which could foreshadow Edna’s desire to which could foreshadow Edna’s desire to leave confines of her middle-class life.leave confines of her middle-class life.

SymbolismSymbolismWaterWater• Water represents freedom and escape. In Water represents freedom and escape. In

addition water is also related to baptism addition water is also related to baptism which means rebirth. Edna learns how to which means rebirth. Edna learns how to swim which gives her power and gives her an swim which gives her power and gives her an AWAKENING.AWAKENING.

• Edna remembers the Kentucky fields of her Edna remembers the Kentucky fields of her childhood as an ocean, and she daydreams of childhood as an ocean, and she daydreams of the day she “swam” the meadow. the day she “swam” the meadow.

• Her learning to swim in the Gulf is a show of Her learning to swim in the Gulf is a show of self-assertion, and she finally “escapes to the self-assertion, and she finally “escapes to the sea”. sea”.

SymbolismSymbolismSleep and AwakeningSleep and Awakening•The 1The 1stst night of the novel, Edna cannot night of the novel, Edna cannot sleep after her husband rebukes her for sleep after her husband rebukes her for neglecting the children. neglecting the children. •It is during this sleepless night that her It is during this sleepless night that her “awakening” begins. “awakening” begins. •We are told, “An indescribable oppression, We are told, “An indescribable oppression, which seemed to generate in some which seemed to generate in some unfamiliar part of her consciousness, filled unfamiliar part of her consciousness, filled her whole being with a vague anguish.”her whole being with a vague anguish.”

Sleep and Awakening Sleep and Awakening • Similarly, the night of Edna’s Similarly, the night of Edna’s

11stst successful swim, she also successful swim, she also cannot sleep. Yet, the next cannot sleep. Yet, the next day, she experiences a deep, day, she experiences a deep, dream-filled sleep during her dream-filled sleep during her nap at the home of Madame nap at the home of Madame Antoine.Antoine.

• Each major episode – Each major episode – disagreements with Leonce, disagreements with Leonce, encounters with Alcee, encounters with Alcee, Madame Ratignolle’s Madame Ratignolle’s childbed – are punctuated by childbed – are punctuated by specific mentions of Edna’s specific mentions of Edna’s sleep, or lack of sleep. sleep, or lack of sleep.