Analysis Of The Awakening By Kate Chopin

The Awakening, which was written by Kate Chopin, was about a woman named Edna, who discovered her aspiration of what she wanted from life throughout the story. Kate Chopin was considered an advocate for feminism during the 20th Century because of the novels she wrote. The definition of a feminist would be “the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men” (Dictionary). The novel was her discovering what her purpose was as an individual, but considering how she achieved her “awakening”, by expressing who she was, it may have come off to others as feminism, because it was unlikely for women to do that during the 20th Century. Although most believe the book The Awakening to be a feminist text, it was
For the majority of her young adult life, to her last few months of life, she was always with a man. First, it was her husband who she married to defy her family, and also because “he pleased her, his absolute devotion flattered her” (18). She married her husband because she liked the way he treated her, and also because she wanted to be rebellious and go against her family's wish, she never grew to love him in their marriage, just grew comfortable with him being present. If she was a feminist, she wouldn’t feel the need to surround herself with men, when they did something that fulfilled her wants at that moment, she should've been able to do that on her own, without focusing on men to accomplish them for her. As a result, she met Robert whom she had a relationship with, it all began because he showed interest in her. Eventually, she started to love Robert and couldn’t stand the thought of being without him, “But can’t you understand? I’ve grown used to seeing you”(45). She doesn’t show that she can be by herself because she is relying on Robert to make her happy, when in reality if she would be feminist, she wouldn’t be dependent on a man to make her feel euphoric emotions. When she didn’t have Robert anymore when he moved to Mexico, she found another man to satisfy what she was missing from Robert. Finally, she met Alcée Arobin who ignited a new emotion that she’s never felt before, “It was
In the 20th Century, it was unheard of for women to express who they were, their purpose was merely to tend to their husband and children. Edna expressed who she was in a straightforward approach, because of who she was as a person. She doesn’t advocate for all women to pursue the freedom that she is finding for herself, she keeps her thoughts private from other women, because she doesn’t concern herself with what others believe to be is