Maria Zangari
Study Guide
The Awakening
By: Kate Chopin
Major Characters
Edna Pontellier- the protagonist; the “awakening” that the title refers is hers. She is a late
twenties wife of a business man. Suddenly Edna comes to the realization that all her life
she has been settling. She becomes dissatisfied with her marriage and the trite lifestyle it
brings. Throughout the novel she begins to act deliberately finding her own identity and
fulfilling her own desires.
Léonce Pontellier - Edna’s husband, He is an older, wealthy New Orleans businessman.
He loves his family but is often gone due to business or get-togethers with friends. He is
concerned with social status and wants to look “good” in the eye of the community.
Robert Lebrun – Edna’s love; He is emotionally driven and becomes attached to Edna
over a summer vacation. She falls in love with him, and he with her. He is part of the
reason she rejects her former life.
Alcée Arobin – Edna’s lover; He has a reputation for being charming and seductive
throughout the community. He makes a habit of becoming
Madame Lebrun - one of Edna’s friends; She is a widow and mother of Victor and
Robert. She owns and manages the cottages on Grand Isle where the novel’s characters
spend their summer vacations.
Adèle Ratignolle - one of Edna’s friends; She represents the Victorian feminine ideal.
She lives for her children and bows to her husband. The meaning for her life revolved
around them and providing the best she can domestically.
involved with married women and succeeds with Edna while her husband is away on
business.
Mademoiselle Reisz - one of Edna’s friends; She is not married and does not have
children. Instead, she devotes her time to her talent and passion, music. She is Edna’s
model for independence and the two become bound by this.
Doctor Mandelet – Pontellier family physician; He is a fairly realistic man compared to
those around him and he recognizes Edna’s unhappiness with the social norms. He
realizes that there is little Léonce can do in an effort to satisfy his wife. Doctor Mandelet
offers Edna his help saying that he is one of the very few people who may understand
her.
The Farival Twins - fourteen-year-old girls who vacation at Grand Isle; They represent
the destiny of adolescent Victorian girls. They embody society’s expectations of women
and art. Art is to be used as a way of making themselves better in the eye of others, as
opposed to self-expression.
The Lady in Black - a silent widow; Her single status does not lend itself to any strength
or independence. Rather she is still tied to her husband by withdrawing from her life out
of respect for her deceased husband.
Summary
The novel opens in the summer while many wealthy inhabitants of New Orleans
vacation on Grand Isle. Edna is the typical wife and mother. Over the summer, however,
Edna becomes close to Robert Lebrun. Before they act on their mutual romantic interest
in each other, Robert leaves for Mexico. Edna returns to New Orleans after the summer
and is lonely without him. Her husband is off on business and she sends her children off.
Shortly, she becomes involved with Arobin who awakens various sexual passions in
Edna.
Along with Edna’s sexual awakening is her determination to become independent.
Instead of spending her days working with household and children, Edna pursues her
interest in painting. Rather than depending financially on her husband, Edna moves into a
house of her own. When Robert returns they express their love for one another. Edna has
reached a breaking point and can no longer handle societal expectations – especially
marriage. Edna is pulled from their conversation early to tend to one of her friends.
When she returns Robert has left. Heartbroken, she returns to Grand Isle. There she
swims far out to sea and presumably drowns.
Analysis
The Awakening revolves around one central idea: shedding societal expectations.
This is expressed in several ways throughout the novella. First and most obviously is
Edna’s conquest for independence. She sends her children away while her husband is on
business and is alone. Also, she begins to make money for herself by selling her
paintings and moves into her own house instead of relying on her husband’s. She turns
her back to the conventional marriage and pursues her own desires but never fully gives
herself up to her other romantic interests. She remains in control of those relationships.
Another way Edna’s life becomes her own is by her rejection of typical womanly
duties. She refuses to be bound to childcare and housework, instead working with
painting. This is significant because instead of painting becoming something that betters
Edna in the eye of others, as most art did; it is simply a pursuit of her passion. It is the
expression of Edna creating her own happiness.
Short Answer Questions
The Awakening revolved around the central idea of society’s conventions versus personal
happiness. What makes this novella relevant over 100 years after its first publication?
What is the significance of Edna being pulled away from Robert, and ultimately cutting
short their new relationship, for a child birth?
Edna is presumed to commit suicide at the end of the novella. Is this a statement in favor
of or gaining her independence or is it a failure for her to ever fully separate from
society’s expectations and eventually falling victim to them?