In literature, we often see a character sacrifice or forfeit something significant to them because of their beliefs. The Awakening showcases the character of Robert Lebrun; a young man who sacrifices his love for a woman named Edna. Robert’s sacrifice of Edna’s love because she doesn’t fit his domestic expectations supports the meaning of the novel as a whole, which is the struggle of an individual against societal and domestic expectations.
Towards the beginning of the novel, we see that Robert starts to develop feelings for Edna during their stay at Grand Isle. These feelings, however, as it is later revealed by Ms. Reiz, scare Robert because he has never felt anything like them before. Because of this fear, he ‘flees’ to Mexico, while