The Awakening

I was intrigued as to how The Awakening caused quite a stir when it was published because of its portrayal of Edna Pontellier and her ‘awakening’ to seek freedom and independence and where that leads to in the novel. Chopin’s novel was labeled immoral and out of character for a female in 1899, and thus quite censored.

The Awakening follows Edna as she navigates her own self discovery. Her husband Léonce (side bar: Léonce is name I have not heard of and really liked) is often away on business and leaves Edna alone to tend to home affairs. Edna gains her first taste of freedom when she learns to swim, finds physical and mental exhiliration, and grows attached to another man, Robert.

“The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude.”

I thought her “awakening” being slightly tied to her first swim also a brilliant metaphor. The sea calling Edna, beckoning her to freedom. It’s quite a suitable path, and after that first swim she starts to hear it and go closer to it.

Eventually, in an act of pure defiance, she moves out of the house while Léonce is traveling for business. She funds herself through a minor inheritance and her art. Finally realizing her own identity and independence from family, children, and Léonce.

“I would give up the unessential; I would give up my money, I would give up my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself. I can’t make it more clear; it’s only something I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me.”

Throughout the novel she slowly detaches herself from her duties as a wife and mother, and instead continues to deepen her quest to become independent by taking up painting and art.

It’s interesting because there’s a point of view that Edna was free to do what she wanted because her wealthy husband who was away for business and seemingly quite lenient and level headed with her, gave her a certain amount of freedom that many do not have. Yes, she had the duty to him and the children, but ultimately she could have found a way to pursue her own independent needs while maintaining that. You can argue the other direction that Edna was pushed societally towards a life of marital duty and encasement, one that she didn’t know she had to fulfill because she didn’t know about another possibility. Upon realizing there were other possibilities, she suddenly felt trapped and no longer free. What I asked myself in all of this is what is the cost of her freedom, and is it worth it?

“She was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world.”

In the end, she completely liberates herself in a final act that’s left to the reader to interpret. I had a passing thought that perhaps some future authors, Virginia Woolf or Sylvia Plath, may have been inspired by Kate Chopin, but upon some further research, it turns out it was so censored and out of print that it likely never came across either of their shelves. In fact, The Awakening wasn’t even rediscovered until the 60s or so. It’s a classic that was unique and ahead for its time, but it did feel challenging to read at times. I would recommend reading it, but ultimately it’s not a must read.