Course Hero Logo

The Awakening | Study Guide

Kate Chopin

Get the eBook on Amazon to study offline.

Buy on Amazon Study Guide
Contents
Cite This Study Guide

How to Cite This Study Guide

quotation mark graphic
MLA

Bibliography

Course Hero. "The Awakening Study Guide." Course Hero. 7 Feb. 2017. Web. 31 May 2023. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Awakening/>.

In text

(Course Hero)

APA

Bibliography

Course Hero. (2017, February 7). The Awakening Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved May 31, 2023, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Awakening/

In text

(Course Hero, 2017)

Chicago

Bibliography

Course Hero. "The Awakening Study Guide." February 7, 2017. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Awakening/.

Footnote

Course Hero, "The Awakening Study Guide," February 7, 2017, accessed May 31, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Awakening/.

The Awakening | Infographic

Share
Share
Email Facebook Pinterest Twitter Google+
Click to copy
Embed
Click to copy code

Check out this Infographic to learn more about Kate Chopin's The Awakening. Study visually with character maps, plot summaries, helpful context, and more.

the-awakening-kate-chopin Set in 1890s Louisiana, The Awakening follows the progress of Edna Pontellier as she sheds the parts of herself that are dictated by societal expectations and uncovers her true self. Edna finds freedom in sexual passion and artistic expression, but she also finds that refusing to conform to accepted women’s roles has a downside. Waking Up to the True Self SYMBOLS Birds Birds are used to symbolize women, who are caged or broken by societal expectations. Moon The moon is a traditionalsymbol of womanhoodand romance. Ocean The seductive ocean symbolizes sexuality and self-expression as well as the solitude freedom can bring. Waking Edna’s physical awakenings are often followed by amental awakening. Themes Women in Society Edna rebels against the specific and very limited roles women are expected to play in society. Awakening Edna awakens to her sense of self, her sexual nature, and her ability to express herself. Individuality Becoming a fully realized individual means resisting society’s normsbut also results in solitude thatcan be crushing. Narrator, Chapter 6 rs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her. Léonce PontellierEdna’s wealthy, successful, concerned husband Robert LebrunEdna’s romantic, dramatic love Madame RatignolleEdna’s neighbor; a devoted wife and mother Mademoiselle ReiszUnmarried, solitary pianist Edna PontellierUpper-class woman discovering her true self Main Characters Alcée ArobinWomanizer; has a sexual affair with Edna Married Romance Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Chopin settled in New Orleans after her marriage in 1870. As a wealthy woman and mother, but also a writer, she understood the difficulty of reconciling the inner life with the outer image, a tension seen throughout her work. KATE CHOPIN1850–1904 Author The Awakeningby the Numbers Times Edna and Alcée meet for a sexual encounter in the novel 2 Year the Supreme Court ruled the Louisiana “head and master” law giving husbands control over their wives’ property was unconstitutional 1981 Year The Awakening was challenged at a Georgia library because the cover showed a woman’s bare chest 2011 Year Chopin was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame on Delmar Street 1990 Sources: Biography.com, Cases, Materials, and Problems in Property by Richard H. Chused, DePauw University Libraries, Encyclopaedia Britannica, KateChopin.org, Marshall University Libraries, St. Louis Walk of Fame Copyright © 2016 Course Hero, Inc. Kate Chopin 1899 English Novel Author Year Published Original Language The Awakening Drama
Overview Context

Want to see more infographics? View All Infographics on Course Hero!

Cite This Study Guide

information icon Have study documents to share about The Awakening? Upload them to earn free Course Hero access!

Copyright © 2016. Course Hero, Inc. As a reminder, you may only use Course Hero content for your own personal use and may not copy, distribute, or otherwise exploit it for any other purpose.