The Awakening

The Awakening explores different details of a woman living life through the 1800's. The main character that is discussed is Edna Pontellier. She is married to Leonce Pontellier and they have two children together, Etienne and Raoul. The story behind Edna is her desire and struggles to be an independent woman and live fully within her true self. She has struggles learning this about herself and the purpose of a happy life that in turn it causes friction with her friends and family. There are many symbols and perspectives in the story that will help decide whether or not Edna did the right thing in the end. Although Edna's ultimate suicide is a waste of her struggles against an oppressive society, The Awakening supports and encourages feminism as a way for women to obtain sexual freedom, financial independence, and individual identity.
A critical analysis consists of choosing a certain lens that would point out certain characteristics of a book and summarize the findings. From the weekly reading “When you analyze a piece of literature or portion of it, it is important to look at various parts of the work—characters, setting, figurative language, and symbolism” (South University, Lecture, wk.2). There are three perspectives that were included in The Awakening, Feminist, Psychoanalytical and Historical. While writing this paper from a feminist perspective there will also be comparisons from the other two.
As Sigmund Freud stated “the mind has two parts, the conscious and subconscious. The influence on the subconscious are the text's plot, setting, conflict, symbols point of view and character.” (South University, Lecture, wk.3) Psychoanalytic can be looked through like a lens. Examining the story through this lens can give the outcome of what the characters were going through. When Edna refuses to come into her husband after being asked, "Do you know it is past o'clock? Come on," "Edna!" called Mr. Pontiellier from within", (Chopin, 2012 Ch. 11, p. 4) Edna realized soon enough that she did not want to have to come in because her husband called. She was for once in her life doing what Edna wanted to do.

From a psychoanalytical point of view Edna was tired of feeling trapped and sad that she had let herself be that women who had to answer to her husband when called. She was putting up a fight towards Leonce. "She perceived that her will had blazed up, stubborn and resistant". (Chopin, 2012. Ch. 11 p. 13) After she did not go, Mr. Pontiellier sat down beside her and she got what she wanted. She did not have to move. This could have shown her that she could act a different way and not have to listen to him.
The feminist perspective on this situation above shows how women in the 1890's were treated and Edna was tired of that feeling. Husbands during this time when asked for their woman she without haste would come. It was a shock to Leonce to not have her do as he asked or said. From a historical perspective women were in charge of the house, chores, cooking and kids. Edna was not happy with this anymore. She was finding herself and wanting to do that without the distractions of the womanly duties.
As told in the readings, Edna was not the motherly figure as all other mothers are. “In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-women. They were women who idolized their children” (Chopin Ch.4 p. 2) Towards the end of the story she branches out on her own while Leonce and the children were away. This shows that inside she was confused and the life she had was not what she wanted. In a psychoanalytical perspective this could come across as depressed.
During the suffrage movement women started to speak out and were not living the same life as women were before the movement. The historical perspective for Edna during this time was the beginning of change for women. Edna not knowing this was before her had it in her the whole time. To be different. The author Kate Chopin was living during this time of the suffrage movement but only wrote the book to open the eyes to how times were before her and during the movement. She was among the first American authors to write truthfully about women's hidden lives,

about women's sexuality, and about some of the complexities and contradictions in women's relationships with their husbands. (KateChopin.org) The suffrage movement was the start to women voting and earning a living for their selves so to not have to rely on the men in their life. Chopin experienced this and included this time period in her readings.
Back to the feminist perspective since women’s rights had evolved the movement that created all these revolutionary changes was called the feminist movement. The feminist movement occurred in the twentieth century. Many people are not aware of the purpose of the feminist movement. The movement was political and social and it sought to set up equality for women. Women’s groups in the United States worked together to win women’s suffrage and later to create and support the Equal Rights Amendment. The economic boom between 1917 and the early 1960s brought many American women into the workplace. As women began to join the workplace they became progressively more aware of their unequal economic and social status.
All Edna wanted was to have the same opportunities in life that men had. She did not want to be a mother or a wife and had no desire to be anyone’s property. Women in the feminist movement yearned for the business opportunities that men had and the ability to live on their own. Edna is used to model a woman who would have been involved in the feminist movement. Edna soon learns she can have other things for example her small pigeon house or her artwork. One of the most impressive ways Edna demonstrates her self-sufficiently is how she supports herself financially. Through a well-timed inheritance and a rebirth of her love for art, Kate Chopin releases Edna into the independent world where she is in charge and is not reliant on anyone else. Edna worked very hard throughout the novel to obtain her sexuality and freedom, despite any consequences she might have faced in society. She is a blossoming rose - the essence of rare beauty, emerging confidence, and reputable superiority - in a world of muted grays.

The symbolism in the story relates to the birds and the sea. Birds play a dominant part in the imagery of Edna's awakening. From the beginning of the book, the imprisoned parrot screams, "Allez-vous en! Allez-vous en! Sapritsi!" Translated to Edna's language, "Go away! Go away! For heaven's sake!" is clearly an illumination of Edna attempts to communicate to her husband Léonce and society as she slowly begins to establish herself as an independent woman. The parrot also represents Edna as she begins in the book; a caged animals yearning to be released, but held back by the bars of culture.
Alcée Arobin is one of the following bird symbols. His name "A - robin," he is a bird flying nest to nest. He is not necessarily looking for love, more he is searching for and obtaining his sexuality. Alcée speaks in such a way "that astonished her at first and brought crimson to her face" (Chopin Ch. 26. p. 2), but also opens up new worlds for him. Edna appreciates Alcée's lifestyle - free as a bird, doing what ever pleases him. She craves to live the way Alcée does so she can glide through the world with a demeanor of sophistication, liberation, and peace. Their fleeting affair, one that "was a flaming torch that kindled desire" (Chopin Ch. 27. p. 2), also completely revolutionizes Edna's sexuality. She describes her earliest kiss with Alcée as "the first kiss to which her nature had really responded" (Chopin Ch. 27. p. 2). Mademoiselle Reisz tells Edna, "The bird that would soar above the level of plain tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth" (Chopin 83). Her advice runs deep, meaning to say that if Edna will not waver in her determination to burst out of her slowly deteriorating cage, she must have the strength to defy the stereotypes of docile and submissive women.
These words come back to Edna when she sees a disabled bird falling to its death in the sea. Her suicide is representative of this bird untoward demise; however, Edna's suicide is also symbolic of Edna's cage collapsing. She is finally set free of everything around her and taking this in stride, spreads her wings and soars above the clouds of society.

Kate Chopin's novel seethes with feminist ideology and the roles of women during a time when either issue was rarely discussed. While Edna's death is a tragic loss and somewhat discredits the theme of the book, the actions Chopin's protagonist takes to obtain her own individuality are immaculate illustrations of what The Awakening conveys. Chopin positions Edna to fly well beyond the boundaries of accepted culture. Edna learns through her experiences as a sexual, self-sufficient woman that she does not have to depend on men to be her own person. By breaking out of her caged life, Edna feels she no longer is tethered to the earth. She can finally control her life and ultimately determine her fate as a liberated, sexual, and independent woman.

References
The Kate Chopin International Society. (2010). Kate Chopin biography. Retrieved April 04th 2012 from http://www.katechopin.org/biography.shtml
South University Online. (2010). ENG1002: Composition/literature: Week 3: Reading and writing about drama. Retrieved from www.myeclassonline.com

Chopin, K. (2005). The awakening [VitalSource digital version]. Raleigh, NC: Hayes Barton Press.