Abstract The paper discusses and analyzes "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, a book about a young woman, Edna Pontellier, who is restrained by her marriage and the responsibilities of being a woman in the 1800s. The paper examines the various relationships in the novel and the character of Edna before and after her 'awakening'.
From the Paper "Although it was unusual for a woman to have her own interests outside of the family, Edna, clung to her hobby of painting. She used painting as a way to further gain her freedom. Painting was the one thing that the men could not take away. It became a mechanism for escape. It took great courage for her to stand up against her husband and insist that she paint. Although it was probably unlikely for a woman to be a great painter in her time, Edna took on the hobby as a talent in which she wanted to excel."
