Awaken

Author: (American) Chopin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-03-01
Features: Like the author's other works, this book primarily depicts the people and events of the Creole community in Southern Louisiana, USA. The Creoles are descendants of French immigrants and are considered aristocrats. Edna was originally immersed in the French-style upper-class society, where her life's purpose was to manage her household and host guests. In such a society, a woman's identity is defined by the man she is associated with; women have no self and are merely someone's daughter, sister, wife, mother, or mistress. That summer, Edna's family went on vacation to Grand Isle, about fifty miles south of New Orleans, where they met Robert, igniting her sense of self and unwillingness to conform to the roles prescribed by men and society. She bravely deviated from the norm, dedicating herself to developing her artistic potential (painting) and pursuing freedom, independence, and a fulfilling love. In the end, she still despairingly realized that no matter what, she could not escape the responsibilities of being a mother or the spiritual and material demands of her child. Faced with the conflict between her self and her sense of duty, she ultimately chose suicide, refusing to give up the newly awakened self and choosing death to uphold the solitude and freedom she longed for.