Feminism: The Fight for Individual Rights & Freedom
Parul Dhir
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of
English 2200, American Literature
New York City College of Technology
Dr. Williams
December 18th 2014
“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of
rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives” States Jane Austen.
This quote directly relates to Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening”. Edna Pontellier, the
protagonist, portrays herself different from all other women, she wants to be free and able
to achieve more than the average woman. Edna is described as being a feminist and is not
appreciated by the members of her society. Ms. Pontellier goes above and beyond for
what she believes in, even if the result is not in her favor. Throughout history women
were always considered beneath men. Although feminism is certainly a dilemma,
evidence shows the evolution of feminism will grow further. Likewise, Ralph Emerson's
“Self Reliance” demonstrates how everyone is created equal whether it be by race, or
sexuality. Similar to Chopin and Emerson, Chestnut, similarly illustrates how two African
Americans fight to gain the same rights as White man in “The House behind the Cedars”.
Research has provided many theories which demonstrate how the values of individuals
have changed based on their surrounding and the environment they are raised in. This
paper will demonstrate how three convincing authors have changed the thinking of
individuals.
In “The Awakening” Edna shows many instance throughout the where she is
fighting achieve freedom from men who had controlled her. Fighting for what she did not
know at that age was feminism, Edna would have several arguments with her father and
sister who were deciding the man she would marry. When the day came she took her
vows with Leonce Pontellier to show how much her father's decision did not concern her.
After being married to her husband, Edna felt as if her husband was controlling the
relationship. He showed minimal to no reverence towards her “Mr. Pontellier didn’t
respect Edna as a woman, not only was he controlling the relationship he saw her a piece
of personal property which has suffered some damage” (Chopin, 3). Edna goes through
several stages of her relationship which would allow her to take charge of her relationship.
Even after completing her wifely and motherly duties she was looked down upon as a
mother. She was constantly compared to Adele Ratigonlle, a woman from the society who
is described to a perfect woman. Not only society but Edna was looked down upon by her
husband, because he too felt she did a poor job taking care of the children, “He
reproached his wife with her inattention, her habitual neglect of the children. If it was not
a place to look after her children whose on earth was it?” This eventually leads to Edna
leading a dual life where she faces two major concerns the first is the inward life and the
second is outward life which she conforms. Edna deals with questions such as who am I
and is this where I belong. Being a daring soul, Edna, gathers enough courage to leave her
husband and her two children in search of freedom and her true identity, where she would
not be bound by the restrictions of society. Edna has her first awakening during the
summer she learned to swim, she states “It was the best thing I ever did, why didn’t I
learn this sooner”. She felt as if her life was now under her control. She grew daring and
reckless, overestimating her strength, she wanted to swim far out where no woman had
swam before (Chopin, 36). After leaving her marriage with Leonce, she had met a
different individual, with whom she felt more connected and limitless. As the man she
wished to marry confronted her to seek permission from her ex-husband she felt trapped
in a world where she was still controlled by a man. After going through such emotional
pain, Edna decides to take the drastic step of suicide, becasuse from the time she left
home she had decided she would never take a step back this left her with only this one
option. Edna’s death symbolized her freedom from a man forever which faith had led her
to.
Looking at the historical evolution of feminism, coupled with the author's own
reality, Kate Chopin used Edna's demise to prove a point. While doing this, certain social
and cultural precepts influence the direction by both the author and her characters
embraced tenants that had supposedly spoke to the universal sense of individualism often
referenced as “being American”. Feminism is the social, political, and economic equality
between men and women. When examining Kate Chopin’s reality we notice she was a
forerunner for feminism. She dedicated her life to fighting for women’s freedom from a
man. “The Awakening” reflects on Kate Chopin’s life story. Edna sacrificed her life to
teach other women how important it is to keep moving forward and not be tied to a man
that controls you. Throughout the novel Edna continuously fights to achieve only one goal
and that is to have the same rights as a man. Even though the novel ends with a gloomy
conclusion, Kate Chopin was daring to express her novels ending in this way. When
women were fighting for feminism, African American’s, similarly were fighting for their
rights, the right to be considered an individual. “Being American” meant freedom and to
have equal rights while sharing the same opportunities as another individual.
Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” taught its readers to fight for what you
believe is right, on the other hand Ralph Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” both contradicted and
agreed with Chopin’s teaching. While examining Emerson work we come across how
nature is everything and everywhere. In this piece he demonstrates, how important it is
that we conform to the norms of the society and at the same time having an awakening
and doing what you believe in. While doing so we are faced with two major concerns
surviving vs. living. In order for the community to respect what we believe in it is
essential that we bring ourselves to the child like state, where we are not judged by society
and categorized as something done correctly or incorrectly. In Ralph Emerson’s “SelfReliance” he states “The virtue in most requests is conformity. Self-Reliance is its
version” (Emerson, 10). Emerson explains it is crucial we conform to society and in a
form become enslaved to the standards of the society in order not to be judged.
Emerson and Chopin both insist on becoming an artist and possess a bold soul.
Chopin reactions are carefree to the reader’s response of her novel. The courageous soul
dares and defies, there is nothing that will get in there way and stop them from trying to
achieve their goal. Being an artist is everything that they wished for; however, the
outcome is not what they expected. Kate Chopin’s novel became banished from the
shelves until 1969. Chopin tried to disclose the truth about feminism, but the audience
failed to agree with her. They disagreed with Edna when she walked out on her children.
The readers had lost respect for the words that were written on the paper. Exposing the
truth about feminism lead to the downfall of Chopin’s career, as she expressed what the
readers were against hearing. During the early 1900’s being is pro feminist, was a good
thing to support. Since Kate Chopin drove the direction of her novel in this way, the
readers felt scared to see women ending up in the same way as Edna. Emerson wants
everyone to be different and their individuality. When you try to imitate someone in what
they do, your thoughts are committing suicide. You begin to believe what you think is
incorrect. When you become an artist you forget what society thinks of you, and represent
yourself in becoming successful in your own way.
If Edna were to become similar to Madame Ratignolle, everyone would appreciate
her as a person; however, no one would want to be with her. Madame possesses the brave
soul which dares and defies and does not care how others feel about her. Edna lived for
the attention and always wanted people to hang out with her. Edna would need to give up
on having a man in her life and go and achieve what she believed in. Edna’s life goal was
to be free from all the invisible shackles that society placed on her. Edna explains “I
would give up my unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my
children; but I wouldn’t give myself up I can’t make it more clear; its only something
which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing its self to me (Chopin, 62). The
way Edna fought for what she believed in during the early 1900s, and if Edna had lived to
see today we would notice many changes. Since society today is pro feminism, the readers
would understand how it feels to be controlled by another individual just like you. Today
this book and author would be praised to show a woman has just the same rights a man.
At the same time African American woman were fighting their own battle, they
were also treated unfair and below any other race or sexuality. Their opinion and decision
did not matter to the man. During this time women were fighting for their rights to
achieve their freedom from men. “The House behind the Cedars” by Chestnut shows how
Rena, a molato girl, faces an awakening that leads her to take the same decision as Edna
Pontellier. Rena faces the predicament of being a person that is of mixed white and black
ancestry. Feminism is a major aspect, as Chestnut is trying to examine how different it is
to be a female in America. Rena is described as being an African American female who
has a very fair complexion, yet cannot pass as a white female. She must face the ultimate
punishment of being a molato girl, which is death. Rena has an awakening when she
becomes a lady and tries pass for a white girl to achieve her purpose of living.
On the contrary John, her brother who is also a black male but can easily pass for
a white man. When John returns home, after being gone for several years, his mom is
unable to recognize him as her son. John has learned how to act and identify himself as a
white man, he presents himself as a young successful lawyer and who has educated
himself. John was expected to leave his home and build his own future. By passing as a
white man, John is able to achieve what he enjoys most, and that is reading. John is a
leader to many individuals who respect him as the man and is seen as a successful human
being. When John had first left his house, he knew what he had his goals set and kept his
mind to it. Chestnut wrote this book to show it’s white readers, how much a black man
must suffer and endure, to complete the same tasks as white man, and how success is not
just handed to him because he white. John is able to pass not just because of his ambitious
attitude, but mostly because he has developed the characteristics that are required to be a
white man. John takes his black life and flips it upside down to a white life.
When John comes back home, he comes with the intention of taking his sister,
Rena, with him. Rena is always looked down upon by the people of her society, especially
by the men. She is described as a beautiful, molato. Rena is a young girl, but not yet a
lady. Her complexion and sexuality is holding her back to become the white woman she
dreams to be. No matter how hard she tries the society she lives in knows she is black.
After constant attempts Rena continuously fails to put herself in a position where she can
pass for the white lady. When Rena falls in love with a white aristocrat that is when she
realizes this is not who she is. He discovers her actual identity and it leads the novel to
foreshadow, Rena does not belong in this world. This is when she decides to take a step
similar to Edna, Rena feels she must die because there is no place where she belongs.
Charles W. Chestnut had the same future in store for him as Kate Chopin’s career.
Kate Chopin’s career had come to end because of her novel “The Awakening”. Critics had
argued this book as vulgar, and disagreeable. Kate Chopin’s idea of being a pro feminist
had gone against her; she was hated by the public. Kate Chopin had used Emerson’s
thought to express how she felt inside of her and took the role of an artist. Once she
became that artist she lost herself. Likewise Chopin, Chestnut wrote about his life and
what he believed. Chestnut was a mixed raced author, essayist, political activist and a
lawyer. He had written several novels and short stories, but “The House Behind The
Cedars” is what led to the collapse of his writing career. Chestnut expertly shows how a
black man successfully used the skills and skin color of a white man to obtain the same
rights. This novel was very controversial because he used the characters to tell a story of
addressing miscegenation, and for non-whites passing as white folks. Charles had wanted
to portray a point and put an end to segregation by having equal rights for all individuals
and not by sexuality or the color of their skin. This novel was written to show the society
the race problem and how it feels to be a black American. A Black American had no
future, they were unable to study, read and acquire knowledge which was granted to a
white man. It was critical for a black man to pass as a white possible. Since the audience
for this novel were white they felt threatened by the molato’s who could resemble a white
man.
After reading “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin, “Self Reliance” by Ralph
Emerson and “The House Behind The Cedars” by Charles W Chestnut, they all emphasize
the importance of the ideals of feminism. Although these authors had lost their writing
career in forerunning for feminism, they helped the readers realize the importance of
equality whether it maybe a woman compared to a man or a black man compared to a
white man. I feel women do deserve the same rights as men. It is very important that such
books be written, they help us realize the things that we take for granted or the things that
we over look. These books are not just words on a page but they they are stepping stones
which help us take decisions which will lead to a brighter future. If Chopin had not
written this book, there is a possibility that women would be working under men and
would not have the opportunity to achieve all that they can. Similarly if black individuals
didn’t fight for their rights it is very likely that we would still have segregated schools and
also we would not Barack Obama as our president. These books had need to be written
and a story needed to be told to end the discrimination against women and race.
Works Cited
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“Kate Chopin: The Awakening, The Storm, Stories, Biography.” KateChopinorg. Web.
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“Quotes About Feminism.” (1303 Quotes). Web. 18 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/feminism>.
“Self-Reliance.” Self-Reliance. Web. 18 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm>.
“Self-Reliance.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 18 Dec. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Reliance>.
“Self-Reliance Quotes.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson. Web. 18 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1758578-self-reliance>.
Chesnutt, Charles W. The House behind the Cedars. S.l.: Floating, 2010. Print.
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. Charlottesville, Va.: U of Virginia Library, 1997. Print.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Self Reliance. Hoboken, N.J.: BiblioBytes, 199. Print.