...Heinrich-Heine-Universität Wintersemester 2010/11 Vertiefungsmodul Kurs: American Realism and Naturalism - Short Stories Seminarleiter: Georg Schiller Datum der Abgabe: 16.04.2011 Female Empowerment in Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” Anjana Dhir BA Englisch KF, Geschichte NF 3. Semester Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. The French – Creole society of Louisiana 4 2.1 Cultural background 4 2.2 French-Creole women 5 3. The Role of Women 6 4.1 Edna vs. Madame Ratignolle 7 3.1.1 “A Valuable Piece of Property” 7 3.1.2 Edna – The Unusual Woman 9 3.1.3 Adèle Ratignolle – The Archetype Woman 14 3.2 “Mother Woman” – The Patriarchal Ideology 16 4. Chopin’s Imagery 18 5. Conclusion - Edna’s Suicide 19 6. Bibliography 21 1. Introduction A certain ungovernable dread hung about her when in the water, unless there was a hand nearby that might reach out and reassure her. But that night she was like a little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who of a sudden realizes its powers, and walks for the first time alone, boldly and with over confidence. […] A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul. She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She...
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...The Second Great Awakening Liberty University CCOU 201 October 5, 2015 Carol Kirby The Second Great Awakening was quiet a big experience for many. It left a huge impact on religion as we know it. The Western Frontier put together “Camp Meetings.” These were religious services that lasted several days. The Pioneers really seem to enjoy these meeting it gave them something to do and filled their social calendar’s up. From the preaching, to the dancing, to the praise and worship, these meetings left many wanting to build churches of their own. The meeting held in Cane Ridge, Kentucky, in 1801, was the second meeting and was very huge. The numbers where phenomenal they had anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 people attended. There was Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist preachers all participating in the revival. This revival then started moving outwards spreading from state to state in the Western area. It went from Kentucky, Tennessee the Ohio. It seemed as though it was a great reward for the Baptist. The Methodist brought forth a group known as the Circuit Riders, they came from the common people. In the 1820’s, Charles Finney, who was a Presbyterian minister, led many revivals. He preached the Gospel in Western New York. He set forth a great planning technique and used his powerful preaching skills. In turn he did many conversions. Finney appealed too many and many converted their lives to Christianity. Finney was such a strong minister, he strength spoke volumes...
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...Short Essay The Awakening: To Be Tamed or Not Women have societal expectations to uphold within every society; however, not all women want to be tamed and repressed. Edna Pontellier, the main character in The Awakening by Kate Choplin, is a twenty-eight-year-old dissatisfied, repressed wife that wants to break out of her upper-class Creole society expectations in 1890s Louisiana. Women of the 1890s had two main societal expectations to up hold within society. However, within The Awakening, Choplin shows how women of 1890s did not want to be restricted by the roles that society had placed on them. Women of the 1890s were expected to be obedient, reserved, and honorable. The main duty of a women in the 1890s was to stay at home and focus their whole lives on caring for their husband, children and household (Turner). This societal expectation was considered the ideal by American society. “At a very early period Edna had apprehended instinctively the dual life” because even at a young age she was taught how important women societal expectations were (Choplin ch.7). Another important societal expectation was the women had to properly maintain her appearance and the state of the home for the sake of her husband's comfort (Turner). Husbands basically had full control of their wives in the 1890s. In The Awakening we can see how important this is when the Pontelliers, or more importantly Edna, kept up with the ritual of calling in order to maintain their reputations as respectable...
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...1800’s which is also around the time the novel “the Awakening” was coming out. The novel was a huge contributor to the cause. That's all thanks to Kate Chopin. In the book “The Awakening” the main character is a woman named Edna Pontellier. She is a woman who goes against everything that a woman is supposed to do and what a woman shouldn’t do. Edna was a huge role model during feminist movement. In the book she goes against almost everything a woman should and shouldn’t do. Some examples are the clothes she wore or clothes she didn’t wear, “hanging out” with a man other than your husband, and going out without a man. Still she was a role model and the book “The Awakening” is why. Not only was she a role model she was also pretty much a timeline in one person of how the feminist movement went. During the feminist movement Edna was a huge role model to the women fighting for their rights. Edna pretty much a symbol of everything that they were trying to get. They were fighting for the equal rights for women, they wanted women to be able to do everything that Edna did in the book. They wanted the chance to walk alone in the street, skinny dip, and even go out with someone other than their husbands. However in the book Edna is looked at as if she has wronged the female race she really didn’t care. And that's what the women really looked up to in the book; how she just didn’t care and found her self. In “The Awakening” at first Edna Pontellier is tired of her life as a...
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...Ecocriticism in The Awakening Nature in The Awakening was used symbolically to represent the freedom to break free from the traditional placement of women during the nineteenth century. Although The Awakening is not typically applauded for its emphasis on “nature writing”, the direct correlation between the environment and the main character’s (Edna) choice to break free from society’s tendency to categorize women as sinners or saints. Using The Awakening and Glotfelty’s definition of ecocriticism, it will be shown that the environment plays a major part in the theme of the novel. In order to fully grasp the environmental connection between what is usually determined as a “gender” novel, because of the character’s fight for an alternative path for women, it must be realized how Kate Chopin addresses nature as an alternative escape from “good or evil.” According to Glotfelty, ecocriticism “shares the fundamental premise that human culture is connected to the physical world, affecting it and affected by it” (Glotfelty). The first connection between the physical world and The Awakening would be the fact that Edna is on an island. The island represents her physical body and mind stuck in one place. The island is described as, “a breeze blowing, choppy stiff wind that whipped water into froth. It fluttered the skirts of the two women (Edna and her friend) and kept them for a while engaged in adjusting, readjusting, tucking in, securing hair pins and hat pins” (Chopin p. 16). The...
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...Self Fighting against social expectations and conventional morals on the journey of progressing-liberation, women have to insist on the quest for female identity with unrelenting passion during a male-dominated period. According to Fox-Genovese’s argument that Edna’s immaturity allows her to question her social position as a social truth. However, I would argues that, in The Awakening written by Kate Chopin, Edna sets an impressive example that presents us with a figure who takes a weary and tough journey in seeking liberation and authentic identity in a complex society, along with exploring self. The courageous soul seems to be the essential beacon guiding her through this tough tunnel, whereas, she finally understands that being herself in an authentic society will be the first step in truly achieving liberation. Quite a few people claim that Edna already has an authentic life, since she is well protected by her husband, who looks at his wife “as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage” (The Awakening, Page 4) My view, however, is that this has the same meaning as Edna being a caged bird who is not fully understood by others. The author writes: “Her eyebrows were a shade darker than her hair. They were thick and almost horizontal, emphasizing the depth of her eyes. She was rather handsome than beautiful.” (The Awakening, Page 5) We learn that Edna’s powerful and serious impression foreshadows her internal strength and masculinity...
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...religions" that supported the intellectual knowledge of that time (Dave, 2009). The tides quickly began to change during the first Great Awakening. Ideas began to spread in regards being non-Calvinistic, or pre-ordained, which lead to the expansion of Protestantism from simply being Puritanical or Unitarian (Matthet, 2006). As a result, a majority of Americans had a greater understanding of Christianity as current Americans experience it today (Matthet, 2006). Also, there was a greater concern for ensuring that Native Americans and black slaves had an understanding of Christianity, and they were ministered to as a result (Matthet, 2006). While the first Great Awakening had no significant effect on women, the foundations were being set for women to make a momentous movement towards gaining more rights within United States society. The Perfection Era was characterized by the expansion of the lifestyles of women, who at that time were housewives (Priebe, 2009). Women began to expand their rights in society through their literary works, which were becoming the norm (Priebe, 2009). This allowed most middle-class white women to reach out to the working class women in which they were able to speak out about the rights that should be afforded to them as equal citizens of the United States (Priebe, 2009). This led to the beginnings of the Suffrage Movement for women, who...
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... The Awakening by Kate Chopin is a novel about a woman who leads the typical life of a nineteenth century woman. During this era, a woman's role is to be a wife and mother. The main character, Edna Pontellier, begins to struggle with this obligatory role in society. Even though she is an upper woman in society, she has feelings of suffocation and frustration. She begins to neglect her duties such as caring for her children, housekeeping, and social visitations. She is also starting to have feelings for men other than her husband. Through Edna's Creole friends, she learns a great deal about freedom of expression. As a result, Edna Pontellier goes on a journey of self discovery and sexual desires through a series of life awakenings. In Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening, Edna Pontellier and her family are vacationing at Grand Isle in southern Louisiana. While there, Edna becomes close to a gentlemen by the name of Robert Lebrun. Robert each summer at Grand Isle had constituted himself the devoted attendant of some fair damsel (Chopin 13). Throughout the summer, Edna spends time with Creole women who liberate her to seek independence from social norms. Their freedom of expression was at first incomprehensible to her (Chopin 12). Edna's character goes on a journey of self discovery and experiences a series of awakenings that lead to her death. Carney 2 The Awakening depicts the lifestyle for women in the early...
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...November 2013 The Birds In Kate Chopin’s book, The Awakening, she expresses the account of a youthful woman who begins to live her life for herself, breaking out of the numerous obstacles set by humanity and her family during the Victorian Era. When Chopin wrote The Awakening in the 1890s, a variety of social differences and tensions, which brought women’s rights into public conversation that prompted Chopin’s narrative. In Louisiana, which is the setting for The Awakening, most women at the time were their husbands' legitimate property. In addition, this was a prominently Catholic state meaning divorce was tremendously uncommon, and women expected to stay loyal and faithful to their husbands. This explains some reactions The Awakening received in after its publication in 1899. Chopin uses symbolism as an excellent device to insert her personal views to the reader giving them a foretaste into the life of this young woman at a time when women had no political rights and many restraints. In Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening,” she uses a variety of birds as symbols to illuminate Edna’s journey through life. The essential significance throughout the story is the desire to break away from the traditional views of women during the Victorian Era. However, Edna struggles with the backlash she would receive if she chose to fulfill her own desires, signifying what she actually wants...
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...Feminism and The Awakening Gender discrimination and feminism played a great role in the novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin. This novel was highly controversial when it was first published. “The Awakening deals with the condition of the nineteenth century woman in marriage, and has been more recently rediscovered and recognized as an overtly feminist text for these same reasons.” (Marquand) This novel was written during a time where a women’s place in society was at home taking care of the children and providing for the husband. This novel, contains the obstructions, the victories and the defeats that Edna dealt due to the demanding requirements of society. Society placed a lot of emphasis on women and in Edna’s case she was expected to be the perfect wife, perfect mother and bow her husband’s every need. Some women in The Awakening are complying with what society expects of women, characters such as Adele plays right into what society believes women should be. Adele is a woman who embodies what society all the qualities of what a woman-mother should be. Edna defies the expectations of society to find her own freedom. Although Edna's suicide seems to be a waste of her time and energy for her tussle against society and the status quo. The Awakening by Chopin is known as one the first feminist novels and it led the way for future feminist novelist. The Awakening lays the foundation and inspires women to take charge of their lives to get whatever they want out of life...
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...The Great Awakening created the separation of church and state in America like the old lights and the new lights, what state it started in, and it’s competitiveness that it has started between churches which made a big movement among the american people. First of all, The Great Awakening split the church and state in America because on (page 91) it states, ”Orthodox clergymen, known as “old lights,” were deeply skeptical of the emotionalism and the theatrical antics of the revivalists. “New light” ministers, on the other hand, defended the Awakening for its role in revitalizing American religion.” This shows that the old lights which were people who didn’t want the Awakening but on the other side is the new lights people who defended the Awakening....
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...The Second Great Awakening The Second Great Awakening had a severe impact on slavery, as well as the way women were viewed in society. During this era, many new religions were formed, causing individuals to live their lives in different ways. Eric Foner states that the Second Great Awakening added a religious basis to the celebration of one’s self-improvement, self-reliance, and self-determination. The Revivals broadened beyond existing churches. The powerpoint mentions some new religions that came about were Mormons, Shakers, Millerites (Adventists), and Churches of Christ. Many revival meetings were held, as well as camp meetings. Foner states that this Great Awakening established the predominance of the Baptist and Methodist churches. According to Foner, Christianity became more central to the American Culture. He also mentions that it spread to all regions of the country and made American Christianity a mass operation. Our powerpoint states that it was a “Spiritual Reform From Within”. It also claims that it consisted of social reforms, as well as redefined the ideal of equality. During camp meetings, Foner mentions how revivalist preachers dropped the belief that man is a sinful creature with a predetermined fate, advocating instead the concept of human free will. He also states that during these gatherings, people of...
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...Women centuries ago, have always been expected to perform certain tasks throughout their lives, such as being around their children the majority of the time or just maintaining the house. For all this time, society established a misplaced control over their lives. Recently, however, this has changed; a new generation of society was born which started to accept women for who they are. Many women fought for their rights as well as a change of living for not just themselves but for everyone. Now, as a new dawn breaks, women can be seen in the seats of power and responsibility which they were wrongfully denied for generations. Edna Pontellier showed us that living outside the norm is not a horrible situation and emerging from such a routine...
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...Social acceptance or freedom, love or lust, these conflicts arise in The Awakening by Kate Chopin as Edna Pontellier struggles with her internal conflicts. In a time where women are expected to be subordinates, Edna begins to defy the standards and her oppressive husband. The first set of foils include Robert and Alcee, or love and lust respectively. In addition, compliance and individualism are exemplified by two polar characters: Adèle Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz. These women act as foils and provide references to the reader in understanding Edna’s awakening. On one hand, Adèle epitomizes the ideal woman of the nineteenth century, but Reisz represents the feminist movement; Robert and Alcee also develop as foils that impact Edna. Which...
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...Have you ever wondered what the lifestyles of Nineteenth Century women were like? Were they independent, career women or were they typical housewives that cooked, clean, watched the children, and catered to their husbands. Did the women of this era express themselves freely or did they just do what society expected of them? Kate Chopin was a female author who wrote several stories and two novels about women. One of her renowned works of art is The Awakening. This novel created great controversy and received negative criticism from literary critics due to Chopin's portrayal of women by Edna throughout the book. The Awakening is a novel about a woman, Edna Pontellier, who is a confused soul. She is a typical housewife that is looking to find herself and be freed from her undesirable lifestyle. Edna was married to her husband for six years and has tow little boys. Her husband, Leonce Pontellier, is the "bread-maker" in the family. He is a business man that pays all the makes and makes sure that his family is financially stable while Edna cares for the children, cooks, and keeps the ... ... middle of paper ... ...(Spring 1978): 108-111 4. Kinnison, Dana. "Female Resistance to Gender Conformity in Kate Chopin's The Awakening.(1899) Women in Literature, Reading through the Lens of Gender. Ed. Jerilyn Fisher and Ellen S. Silber. Forward by David Sadker. Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn. Greenwood. 2003 (22-24) 5. Skaggs, Peggy, "The Awakening's Relationship with American...
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