1. The Awakening
Kate Chopin

2. Background (handout) Author biography Social context of novel 1899
Today
“fallen woman” concept
social class and gender relationships
societal response to novel

3. “local color” novel
Variance of the roles of women and their relationships with men in different settings
Customs and beliefs of Edna Pontellier’s society significant in relation to her psychological development
Attitudes/tendencies in Creole characters in contrast with Edna’s (differences between speculation and action)
References to religion – contrast in Edna, Creoles, and Kentucky Presbyterians

4. Setting
Grand Isle, LA
A much freer place

5. Setting
New Orleans, LA
Society freer than Kentucky but still with social constraints

6. Character Study – relationship to Edna
Females
Mme. Adele Ratignolle – mother-woman
Mlle. Reisz – her own person, misunderstood, artist
Lady in Black – results of love (always following behind lovers)
Mariequita – affairs don’t matter
Mrs. Highcamp – female counterpart to Alcée
Males
Léonce – Edna married to escape her father, who was an alcoholic gambler
Robert – contrasts with Alcée
Alcée – contrasts with Robert
Colonel – Léonce needs to “control” his woman
Dr. Mandalet – intrinsically knows there is another man, but doesn’t tell Léonce

7. Literary Foils (representative of choice)
There is always choice. There is seldom perception of choice. Some choice make others harder or easier or necessary.
Adele
Edna
Reisz

8. Imagery
Nature
parrot: “Go away” – Léonce wants to be left alone; Edna wants Léonce to go away
expansive spaces: sea, meadow (freedom);
confining spaces: pidgeon house
Music
Reisz – plays with Edna/s emotions
Edna doesn’t want Victor to sing the song Robert sang

9. Imagery cont. Color (yellow & red) – love; anger – w/ Robert
dinner with yellow table cloth; happy color
dinner party & beyond when she gets closer to destroying herself, the two colors blend

10. Symbolism
The Sea (how you interpret this depends on interpretation of ending)
freedom to Edna, when she learns to swim, death
Birds/Wings
caged bird or free bird; weak or strong
mockingbird, parrot, pigeon
Sleep/Dreams
Edna sleeps a lot; when sleeps in house with Léonce, she can’t sleep; sleeps soundly at a house with Robert, wakes feeling refreshed; sleeps soundly alone

11. Symbolism cont. Violets Madame Reisz’s fake violets
way she moves is crippled – result of being alone?
The Lovers (not married?)
sooner or later, one is going to die; Lady in Black is result

12. Irony - the awakening as a trap
Is it better to have glimpsed and lost then never to have seen independence at all?
What choices did Edna have?
Not act
By choice
By necessity
Act
Affair w/ Robert
shunned
Left by Léonce (no $)
Leave Léonce
Alone (no $)
Alcée
Robert
If she remains married or with a lover, she is back to the beginning of the Awakened circle (because she is man’s perception).

13. Point of View vs. Perspective
How does the point of view affect the novella?
How would the novella be affected if it were narrated by Edna?
Edna as Heroine
Ending as result of Edna’s strengths or weaknesses
Ending as victory or defeat
Ending as result of other characters
Edna as a realistic character

14. Themes Rebellion (defiance vs. defiant acts) Edna Alcée Reisz
Awakening (conscious vs. unconscious)
understanding lacked before
The Definition of Womanhood
What qualities are valued as a woman? “home happy”?