The Awakening By Kate Chopin Essay
A Reflection of Idealism and Realism Since its creation, the utopian and dystopian theory has made many political conversations take place worldwide. These conversations revolve around the idea of a perfect society versus that of an unpleasant society. In captivating a large portion of the human race, the theory is a huge topic with authors who also want to voice their opinion on the matter. One of these authors being the writer of The Awakening, Kate Chopin. Through her writing, Chopin expresses her view by taking on the aspect of the female social class, and of how different it is treated within the two theorized sociological settings. During her time, Chopin was part of a highly detested group whose focus was mainly on that of
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writing about biased subjects. Out of all of the subjects, Chopin wrote about the treatment of the women in her generation (“Chopin, Kate (1851-1904)”). While doing so, she demonstrated the style of artistic realism. By definition, artistic realism involves the showcasing of certain matters in a realistic light. Thus, regardless of the situation, whether that being positive or negative, it will always be told truthfully. Chopin used this form of writing to highlight the different issues women had to face like that of strained marriages, and sensual tensions, and/or frustrations (“Chopin, Kate (1851-1904)”). In other words, with using artistic realism, Chopin was able to give a clear understanding to her readers of what women really had to deal with instead of the accumulated ideas, and/or viewpoints, that most people thought of. The Awakening, best captures Chopin’s usage of artistic realism and of how the facts, and/or realistic, events go against that of the idealistic assumptions of what the female class truly endured.
It tells the story of a woman named Edna Pontellier, who of which, goes on a journey to try to find her true identity in the world. In doing so, Mrs. Pontellier has to deal with a “...marriage…” with a demanding husband and a hectic agenda of trying to keep watch of her two young “...children…” (“Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening””). Outside of balancing these stressful everyday occurrences, Edna tries to calm herself by trying to take advice from her friends Adele Ratignolle and Robert Lebrun. Thereupon, in talking with Ratignolle, Edna is told to give in to “...life’s delirium…” of doing of what is expected of her as a wife and a mother (94). Unlike that of Mrs. Pontellier’s predicament, Adele has given into that of their civilization’s ideal outlook of being a woman who has completely immersed herself in that of the well being of her family and of nothing else. Appalled by this response, Edna labels it as being a “...colorless [and]...blind contentment…” and then goes on to describe Adele as being
brainwashed.
Works Cited
Caldwell, Tracy M. “Kate Chopin’s ‘The Awakening.’” Understanding Literature 2006: 1-11. EBSCO. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Avon Books, 1972. Print.
“Chopin, Kate (1851-1904).” Modern American Literature 1. 5 (1999): 218-219. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
writing about biased subjects. Out of all of the subjects, Chopin wrote about the treatment of the women in her generation (“Chopin, Kate (1851-1904)”). While doing so, she demonstrated the style of artistic realism. By definition, artistic realism involves the showcasing of certain matters in a realistic light. Thus, regardless of the situation, whether that being positive or negative, it will always be told truthfully. Chopin used this form of writing to highlight the different issues women had to face like that of strained marriages, and sensual tensions, and/or frustrations (“Chopin, Kate (1851-1904)”). In other words, with using artistic realism, Chopin was able to give a clear understanding to her readers of what women really had to deal with instead of the accumulated ideas, and/or viewpoints, that most people thought of. The Awakening, best captures Chopin’s usage of artistic realism and of how the facts, and/or realistic, events go against that of the idealistic assumptions of what the female class truly endured.
It tells the story of a woman named Edna Pontellier, who of which, goes on a journey to try to find her true identity in the world. In doing so, Mrs. Pontellier has to deal with a “...marriage…” with a demanding husband and a hectic agenda of trying to keep watch of her two young “...children…” (“Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening””). Outside of balancing these stressful everyday occurrences, Edna tries to calm herself by trying to take advice from her friends Adele Ratignolle and Robert Lebrun. Thereupon, in talking with Ratignolle, Edna is told to give in to “...life’s delirium…” of doing of what is expected of her as a wife and a mother (94). Unlike that of Mrs. Pontellier’s predicament, Adele has given into that of their civilization’s ideal outlook of being a woman who has completely immersed herself in that of the well being of her family and of nothing else. Appalled by this response, Edna labels it as being a “...colorless [and]...blind contentment…” and then goes on to describe Adele as being
brainwashed.
Works Cited
Caldwell, Tracy M. “Kate Chopin’s ‘The Awakening.’” Understanding Literature 2006: 1-11. EBSCO. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Avon Books, 1972. Print.
“Chopin, Kate (1851-1904).” Modern American Literature 1. 5 (1999): 218-219. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.