Female Protagonists In Kate Chopin's The Awakening
Many individuals believe that we live in a perfect environment, without violence or prejudice. A group of people who call themselves feminists argue that a significant amount of the population, women, are treated as men’s tools. To fight back this ideal, people write stories with female protagonists who challenge the social norms, one example being Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. The novella gives life to the motherly Adele Ratignolle, the unconventional Reisz, and the stubborn protagonist Edna Pontellier. Mrs. Pontellier is a rebellious woman trapped in a strict culture who finds freedom during her vacation in Grand Isle. As a result, she decides to obtain her individuality with radical actions that reflect modern feminist ideals that are essential in a feminist literature.
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Edna’s revolt against the Victorian Era culture reflects the feminist values of a woman finding her own self-freedom.
The protagonist attends a party and hears emotional piano music from Mademoiselle Reisz, a woman who becomes detached from society to follow her passion for music. This inspires the young woman to follow her own dreams. Reisz, in turn, guides Edna by assisting her pursuit for true love while warning her of the conflicts that this path brings. Reisz aids Edna with her worries by permitting her to read the letters from Robert Lebrun, the man who awakens Edna with their forbidden love before moving to Mexico. This helps Edna to continue her journey in her awakening, as the narrator states, “Edna was sobbing, just as she had wept one midnight at Grand Isle when strange, new voices awoke in her” (Chapter 21). Another key point is when Reisz alerts Edna of the forthcoming struggles she will face. The musician assures Edna of the consequences to the path of liberty, testifying that, “The artist must possess the courageous soul, the soul that dares and defies” (Chapter
21).
Edna’s denial for society’s mother-woman role demonstrates the feminist values of individualism. Mrs. Pontellier prohibits Léonce, her controlling spouse who constraints her, as well as her children from controlling her life by voicing her desire to keep her individuality. A sample of this is when she rejects to welcome her husband’s guests by explaining that, “There were a good many [guests]... I found their cards when I got home; I was out” (Chapter 17). Edna begins to break free from her husband’s suppressions to create her own decisions, even if it angers Mr. Pontellier. Another example is when Edna discusses her feelings with Madame Lebrun, Robert’s mother. In this conversation, Edna reviews how much self-expression means to her compared to her children. Edna states that, “I would give my money, I would give my life for my children, but I wouldn’t give myself” (Chapter 16), which establishes that she values her morals on individuality more than anything else.
Edna performs the most controversial action of exploring her sexual longings, exemplifying the principle of a woman’s freedom of expressing sexual wants. Her clashes with Adele’s embracing lifestyle and Alcee’s flirtatious attitude assist her with researching these feelings. All throughout her life, society forces Edna to seclude herself which limits her knowledge in physical contact. Adele Ratignolle, a Creole woman who embraces the feminine ideal, brings forth a new view in communication that allows Edna to happily express herself. The narrator indicates this with the words, “There may have been . . . influences, both subtle and apparent, working in their several ways to induce [Edna] to [loosen a little her mantle of reserve]; but the most obvious was the influence of Adele Ratignolle” (Chapter 7). Edna turns to Alcee Arobin, the man who seduces married women and whom satisfies Mrs. Pontellier’s yearnings. The line, “It was the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded. It was a flaming torch that kindled desire” (Chapter 27), perfectly illustrates Arobin’s influence. The narrator depicts Edna as a human being with wants like any other. These deeds perfectly illustrates a woman’s right to discover these feelings, as they are not only for men.
Edna’s revolt against the Victorian Era culture reflects the feminist values of a woman finding her own self-freedom.
The protagonist attends a party and hears emotional piano music from Mademoiselle Reisz, a woman who becomes detached from society to follow her passion for music. This inspires the young woman to follow her own dreams. Reisz, in turn, guides Edna by assisting her pursuit for true love while warning her of the conflicts that this path brings. Reisz aids Edna with her worries by permitting her to read the letters from Robert Lebrun, the man who awakens Edna with their forbidden love before moving to Mexico. This helps Edna to continue her journey in her awakening, as the narrator states, “Edna was sobbing, just as she had wept one midnight at Grand Isle when strange, new voices awoke in her” (Chapter 21). Another key point is when Reisz alerts Edna of the forthcoming struggles she will face. The musician assures Edna of the consequences to the path of liberty, testifying that, “The artist must possess the courageous soul, the soul that dares and defies” (Chapter
21).
Edna’s denial for society’s mother-woman role demonstrates the feminist values of individualism. Mrs. Pontellier prohibits Léonce, her controlling spouse who constraints her, as well as her children from controlling her life by voicing her desire to keep her individuality. A sample of this is when she rejects to welcome her husband’s guests by explaining that, “There were a good many [guests]... I found their cards when I got home; I was out” (Chapter 17). Edna begins to break free from her husband’s suppressions to create her own decisions, even if it angers Mr. Pontellier. Another example is when Edna discusses her feelings with Madame Lebrun, Robert’s mother. In this conversation, Edna reviews how much self-expression means to her compared to her children. Edna states that, “I would give my money, I would give my life for my children, but I wouldn’t give myself” (Chapter 16), which establishes that she values her morals on individuality more than anything else.
Edna performs the most controversial action of exploring her sexual longings, exemplifying the principle of a woman’s freedom of expressing sexual wants. Her clashes with Adele’s embracing lifestyle and Alcee’s flirtatious attitude assist her with researching these feelings. All throughout her life, society forces Edna to seclude herself which limits her knowledge in physical contact. Adele Ratignolle, a Creole woman who embraces the feminine ideal, brings forth a new view in communication that allows Edna to happily express herself. The narrator indicates this with the words, “There may have been . . . influences, both subtle and apparent, working in their several ways to induce [Edna] to [loosen a little her mantle of reserve]; but the most obvious was the influence of Adele Ratignolle” (Chapter 7). Edna turns to Alcee Arobin, the man who seduces married women and whom satisfies Mrs. Pontellier’s yearnings. The line, “It was the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded. It was a flaming torch that kindled desire” (Chapter 27), perfectly illustrates Arobin’s influence. The narrator depicts Edna as a human being with wants like any other. These deeds perfectly illustrates a woman’s right to discover these feelings, as they are not only for men.