The Awakening

1
The Awakening

• Introduction

2
Setting and Social Background

• Grand Isle, La. and New Orleans, La. circa 1899
  are the two settings for the novel
• N.O.Catholic, French with a great deal of
  interracial mixingis a relatively easygoing
  society.
• Husbands are not jealous of the attention their
  wives receive from other men women do not place
  too much credence in these attentions

3
Creoles

• Edna is a southern Presbyterian while her
  husband, Léonce Pontellier, is Creole
• Creole descendants of early French and/or
  Spanish settlers born in La.
• Creole A mixture of African and French and/or
  African and Spanish born in La.
• Creole Free people of Color who had lived in
  N.O. alongside European settlers from the citys
  founding

4
The French Quarter

• The old French Quarter (or Vieux Carré), where
  the characters of The Awakening live, is the site
  of the original settlement. The Quarter is laid
  out in a grid that is unchanged since 1721,
  bounded by the Mississippi River, Rampart Street,
  Canal Street, and Esplanade Avenue (where the
  Pontelliers have their house)

5
Victorian and Early Twentieth-Century Sexuality

• The Victorian attitude toward human sexuality was
  largely influenced by two men whose published
  works revolutionized how men and women viewed
  themselves Charles Darwin (1809-1882) and
  Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).

6
Sexuality Background contd.

• Darwins demotion of the human race from
  almost-Divine to basically animal was almost as
  shocking as Freuds thesis that most of human
  nature is rooted in its sexuality.
• As a result, very strict codes of attitude and
  behavior evolved to prevent humans from
  regressing into mere animal behavior, and to
  ensure their healthy development.

7
Contd.

• Men and women were not supposed to talk about or
  even indulge in thoughts about sex. While the
  Creole society of N.O. and Grand Isle is a little
  more open than elsewhere, still these
  restrictions apply.
• Notice how Edna is embarrassed to discuss the
  book that is circulating Grand Isle, although she
  has enjoyed reading it, and how she is shocked
  for Robert and Mme. Ratignolle to openly discuss
  Mmes pregnancy.

8
Contd.

• While it is clear that the issue of sex is not
  the sum total of Ednas awakening, it is likewise
  clear that sexual freedom and expression are a
  part of it.

9
Symbols

• Art becomes a symbol of both freedom and failure
• Birds major symbol from the first sentence of
  the novel to the final image. The ability to
  spread wings and fly is a symbolic theme that
  occurs often in the novel.
• Food there are several symbolic meals in the
  text, and each stresses mythic aspects in the text

10
Symbols contd.

• Swimming appears as a central issue in the book
  three times
• Water symbol of both freedom and escape. Even
  in N.O. away from the sea, there are frequent
  water referencesrain and the view of the river
  from Mlle. Reiszs apartment
• Piano Playing there is a great deal of piano
  playing in the novel
• Sleep and Awakening

11
Themes

• Repressed feelingsalmost everyone in the book,
  with the possible exception of Mme. Ratignolle
  and her husbandrepress their feelings, and this
  repression has a significant impact on how the
  characters interact and how the plot develops.
• Léonce Pontellier
• Robert
• Mlle. Reisz
• Edna

12
Themes contd.

• Personal freedomAll of the characters are
  trapped by social expectation. The only
  characters who are not (Victor Lebrum, Mlle.
  Reisz, Alcée Arobin) are criticized by the
  others.
• Role of womenThe society of Kate Chopins novel
  allows fro essentially one feminine role, and
  this is wife and mother. The various female
  characters in The Awakening, then, represent the
  various responses to this single role
• Mme. Ratignolle
• Mlle. Reisz
• Edna

13
Themes contd.

• Search for Selfto some extent, this theme is a
  combination of the idea of repressed feelings and
  the search for personal freedom
• Alienation and Loneliness
• Consequences of Choices