Edna's Search for Independence

Paper Summary:

Kate Chopin, by demonstrating Edna's Pontellier's awakening in her novel, attempts to wake her own society up to the beauty of an independent woman. The paper shows, however, that Louisiana was not very receptive, just as Edna's culture does not accept Edna's change. The paper examines the search, discovery, and application of Edna's "deepest truth" against the backdrop of women in Chopin's times in 19th century Creole Louisiana.

From the Paper:

"Edna further realizes her lack of desire to become the perfect Creole woman when she witnesses the actions of her friend, Adele. According to Quinn, Adele is the model nineteenth century Louisiana woman (1). Adele is entirely devoted to her husband and children; she ranks them above everyone. For example, the narrator of The Awakening describes Adele as a woman that "would not consent to remain with Edna if Monsieur Ratignolle was alone, and he detested above all things to be left alone" (479). Quinn says that Adele was "merely one half of the Ratignolle couple; she was not an individual person" (1)."

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