Gender Roles In Kate Chopin's 'The Awakening'

Sydney Zarsadias
Mrs. Schroder
AP Literature and Composition
3 January 2017
1987: The Awakening Essay In the romantic tragedy, “The Awakening,” by Kate Chopin, Edna rebels against the social norms of a woman, a wife, and a mother in the late 1800s, with the goal of pursuing her newfound dreams of independence and self expression. Through her different interactions with people including her husband, Leonce, her children, Etienne and Raoul, her friend, Adele, her inspiration, Mademoiselle Reisz, and her two lovers, Alcée and Robert, Edna reveals her curiosity and willingness to do anything for freedom. The connections between Edna and this array of people, lead Edna to transform from a traditional housewife to a curious woman who wishes to take
Throughout the novel, Edna works to escape the belittlement and commands of her husband, Leonce. After following his orders without question, she begins to disobey him and take control of how she spends her time at home. She challenges the idea that Chopin presents in the novel, that women are to conform to their husband’s wishes. Chopin presents this idea in such a light that makes gender roles in marriages seem absurd. When Leonce returns home from Klein’s hotel, he shares with Edna, his unrequited enthusiasm about his day. He then informs her that their son has a fever and must be attended to. This interaction serves as a metaphor for the detachment and distance between the two in their relationship, as well as Leonce’s obvious expectations of his wife to take care of the kids single handedly while he spends time out and about. The fact that Leonce wakes her up and that Edna shows no interests also shows that there is a lack of consideration in their marriage. Chopin also lays out the basis of the marriage on shallow and meaningless things,
Between Tuesday’s at home and being at Leonce’s every beck and call, Edna feels overwhelmed. After focusing on the mindset they she wanted to be independent, Edna began to advocate for change in her life through going against the social expectations of a woman in the late 1800s. She accomplished this change through refusing Tuesday’s at home. When Leonce asks Eda why she did not participate in Tuesday's at home, Edna replies, “Nothing. I simply felt like going out, and I went out (Chapter XVII).” Although Tuesday’s at home may just be a simple event, Chopin uses it to represent much more; it represents the expectation for women to dress in their fancy gowns, to sit back and allow others to do the work, to act sophisticated, and most importantly, to follow routine. When Edna skips Tuesday’s at home, she is speaking out against more than just this simple