Feminism In The Awakening

The Evils of Feminism
Feminism is seen as the shining beacon of light for women in the dark sea that is female oppression. In the 19th Century women emerged from their shells of gender roles to stand up for their rights. Kate Chopin creates Edna Pontellier as selfish mother who abandons her family to follow her frivolous infatuations. Edna leaves her privileged upper middle class lifestyle to drown herself to escape her self inflicted problems. Edna uses her suicide as a quick and lasting escape from a world that she realized she was never truly apart of.
The Awakening focuses on the restraining society’s efforts towards women's’ growth in common gender roles. Chopin portrays Edna as woman who became her own savior, then died like a martyr for her self-liberation. Edna lavishly enjoys her loving husband and children but considers herself oppressed, out of place, never seeing herself as a “mother woman” (Chopin 11). Edna’s perspective makes her the stereotypical woman supporting radical feminism. Edna lusts selfish happiness by breaking away from the female stereotype. The adulterous affairs Edna carries out are her way of chasing childish ambition and unrealistic dreams. By leaving Leonce to follow lingering desires for other
men, Edna shows that marriage and family mean nothing to her.
Edna knows Creole society is not where she belongs so she creates distance between herself and society.
Unaware of the societal norms of Creole culture, Edna foolishly believes that all of Robert’s flirtatious notions are to be taken seriously. Leonce cares for Edna, “as...a valuable piece of property...” like any caring husband would.(4) Most women would unquestionably love to get this kind of treatment from their husbands. Edna pushes society away instead of bettering herself through social opportunities. To Edna her family and social responsibilities are simply obstacles in her quest for self-discovery. Edna never considers the damage she does to her own well being and others around her by becoming more introverted from the
world.
The sea allows Edna to awaken her dormant sexuality and fulfill her selfish independence. The unification of body and soul that comes with her new found harmony with the sea gives Edna courage and a sense of independence; and her dormant sexuality is finally awakened when she feels the power of her own body. Edna’s newly found courage and independence she immerses herself with freshly found passions. She seeks ways to improve her artist skills “ hour or two in looking over some of her old sketches. She could see their shortcomings and defects, which were glaring in her eyes.” (58) by finding the flaws in her work. Music grants Edna freedoms which “sent a keen tremore down (Edna’s) spinal column” as she first experiences feminism’s seductive grace. Edna’s awakening opens new doors of feminism devilish grace to be discovered.
Suicide is a permanent escape to a temporary problem. By throwing herself into the water of the Gulf of Mexico, Edna thinks that she will finally break her chains of oppression. By drowning herself Edna drowns the future of her children. Edna overlooks all the good things in her life that she is throwing away. Her selfish actions turn Edna into a low ranking woman whose family will be looked down upon for taking her own life.