Title and Author: The Awakening by: <a href="/keyword/kate-chopin/" >kate chopin</a> Publication Date: 1899 Genre: Fin de seicle (clash of old and new), political romance, novel Writing Style: Undermining women of the time, imagery, foreshadow P.O.V: First Setting: New Orleans, islands, sea Plot: Edna; the main character, is on vacation with her husband, Leonce, on the Grand Isles. Edna spends most of her time with her friend Adele, a Creole who depicts all that is elegant and beautiful. Adele is very open and not afraid to express her feelings, exposure to such openness causes Edna to break away from her prude behavior. Edna comes to know Robert, son of Madame Lebrun. He devotes his time to Edna, and the both spend their days together. As the summer progresses Edna and Robert become close. Robert makes Edna feel more alive than she ever felt before so she starts to paint. She learns to swim. Edna becomes depressed and violent at night with her husband. Robert leaves the Grand Isle to avoid an affair. Edna returns from the Grand Isles to New Orleans a changed woman. Edna continues her painting and ignores all of her responsibilities. Leonce is worried about the changing attitude of his wife; he goes to see Doctor Mandelet. Doctor Mandelet tells Leonce to let Edna's defiance run its course, since attempts to control her would only more fuel her rebellion. Edna moves into a home of her own and declares herself independent. Edna pursues an affair with Robert. Mademoiselle Reisz adopts Edna as a trainee, all along enlightening Edna of the sacrifices required of an artist. Mademoiselle serves as an inspiration and role model to Edna, who continues her process of &quot;awakening&quot;. Robert returns to New Orleans from his business trips, he admits his love to her. Edna conveys to him her new independence, basically denying the control of her husband over her and explaining how she and Robert can live together happily together. Adele undergoes childbirth. Doctor Mandelet, asks Edna to come see him because he is worried about her actions. Edna begins to doubt her actions thinking she acted selfishly. Edna returns home to find Robert missing, a farewell note left in his place. This fuels Edna's most final awakening. Edna feels a strong sense of solitude. She returns to the beaches of Grand Isle. She swims out into the water, she thinks about her liberation from her husband and children, she also thinks about Robert's failure to understand her, Doctor Mandelet's words advise, and Mademoiselle Reisz's courage. She commits suicide. Characters: Edna- The protagonist of the novel, she undergoes a massive &quot;awakening&quot; because she is not happy with her marriage or the strict social confinements. Leonce- Edna's husband, he is frequently out on business trips and knows little about Edna's true feelings. Mademoiselle Reisz- She highly influences Edna's &quot;awakening&quot; she devotes her life to playing the piano, and music. Adele- Represents the ideal Victorian woman, Edna's close friend. Robert- the town he-whore, he falls in love with Edna and they have an intense affair. AlceeEdna's other lover, while Robert is away, he does the deed to satisfy Edna's urges. Doctor Mandelet- Edna and Leonce's physician, he suspects of Edna's affair but keeps it quite. Symbols: Birds- The birds are caged, they represent Edna's feelings. The Sea- Represents Edna's feeling of rebirth. Also her final resting place. Motifs: Houses- Each house represents a stage in Edna's awakening. Music- Piano playing, Mademoiselle Reisz's music represents an artists free view, unlike the other piano players who were playing merely for entertainment. Themes: Self-Expression- Edna only wants to express her self in every way. She does not want to conform to the Victorian standards she vents through art. Solitude- Solitude is brought on by her new independence; her feelings of solitude drive her to her demise. Independence- Edna only wants independence, that is the only goal that she has, when she achieves her golden independence, she feels over whelming solitude. Holistic Interpretation: <a href="/keyword/kate-chopin/" >kate chopin</a> is trying to portray a revolutionary woman way beyond her time. Significance of title: Edna undergoes a massive awakening where she breaks from the norms of Victorian living. Quotes: The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace. The years that are gone seem like dreams--if one might go on sleeping and dreaming--but to wake up and find--oh! well! Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one's life.&quot; She wondered if her husband had ever spoken to her like that before, and if she had submitted to his command. Of course she had; she remembered that she had. But she could not realize why or how she should have yielded, feeling as she then did.