The Awakening is the central theme of Kate Chopin’s novel. The story has much different kinds of experience by the main character Edna Pontellier, which show “awakening”. First, Edna awakens to the fact that she has not been happy in her marriage and she takes her present life unfulfilling. Edna Pontellier’s “awakening” too leads to her demise. This is because, Edna commits suicide after realizing that she is not a “mother-woman” meaning her mind is not centered to her children like other women. This makes Edna commit suicide. Therefore, her awakening caused her demise. The Awakening is not a successful life experience by Edna. This is because her realization of power and freedom made her neglect housewife duties and her blood children as well.
Edna Pontellier is an example of women who resist containment and demonstrates power in the novel “The Awakening” The Author uses the word “exultation to describe Edna’s desire to swim further than any other woman. Edna realizes women’s independence as a show of awakening and what result to her dumping Mr. Pontellier. When Edna meets Robert in chapter six, they speak about Leonce setting Edna free. Edna responds; “you have been very foolish boy, wasting your time dreaming of impossible things when you speak of Mr. Pontellier setting me free! I am no longer one Mr. Pontelliers possessions” this statement supports Edna’s empowerment and her thought as a free and independent woman. Edna therefore is an example of women who resist containment and demonstrate power.
The ending of the story in the awakening may have different interpretation depending on the reader. Several critics differ on interpretation of ending of the novel the awakening. In the end, we see Edna drowning in sea water as she thinks of her children. We can therefore interpret the ending as suicide by Edna after self-realization of her role as a mother and self-blame for abandoning her own children. She takes committing suicide as an option rather than spending the rest of her life in the droll boredom f loveless and having neglected her motherhood duties.
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Water is significant throughout the novel; however, at the end it symbolizes Edna’s liberation and end of the freedom she had acquired from the same see. This is supported by the quote that “Even as a child she lived her own life all within herself” in my thoughts and interpretation, Edna died as we are she slowly drowned in the sea.
Readers like different aspects from the novel “The Awakening” According to me. The awakening is a feminist test. This is because it addresses much on gender roles and women independence. I like the emotional response and understanding ability of Leonce. Leonce shows a massive ability as he tries to understand Edna of her uncharacteristic manner. Mr. Pontellier even plans and consults over the issue rather than acting. This show is responsible nature as a father and it’s a point of admiration. Edna’s behavior act of abandoning her blood children and neglect her household duties is all what I dislike.
