Loss of self-identity and continuous strive for independence; these are the two things the main protagonist of The Awakening, Edna Pontellier, faces throughout the novel. The Awakening is written by Kate Chopin, a well known feminist writer, and was published in 1899.
The novel opens up in the setting of late 1800s at Grand Isle. The story describes the relationship of the main character, Edna, and other minor characters in the story. The novel mainly revolves around the emotion and thoughts of Edna Pontellier. Her confusion over her true feelings and her true identity is widely dealt throughout the story.
The plot includes wide variety of vivid description of the setting and superfluous amount of symbolic devices. Many factors present in the novel contain symbolic meaning to them. The setting of the story also plays a big role in contributing to the development of the symbolisms in the novel. Although the book was written in the late 1800s, the vivid description and detailed emotional confusion of Edna successfully attracts even the present day readers by allowing them to personally connect with the character.
Aside from the rhetoric devices used in the novel, the plot is very mellow and slow moving. The novel does not contain much external conflict with excitement and violence; however it embeds a significant amount of internal conflict of Edna with sorrow and confusion within herself.
As the plot advances, Edna Pontellier gradually changes into a completely different person. Her timid and dependent personality changes to become independent and free. Observing Edna’s gradually change is also an entertaining source to look out for when reading the novel.
The conflicts that Edna faces about her own identity and freedom may seem typical for the readers in the present day, however at the time when Chopin wrote the novel, personal opinions of women were not considered seriously. As shown in one of Chopin’s famous works, “The Story of an Hour”, Chopin experimented with sensitive topic of the time. Reading The Awakening along side with Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour”, will allow the readers to understand Chopin’s style of writing.
Overall, the book’s vivid details and descriptive emotional conflict of the main protagonist, Edna Pontellier, brings liveliness to the novel and makes it more interesting. I recommend the book to female readers or those who are interested in feministic work of writing.
