"The Awakening"

Book Review # 100080

English > Analysis
Literature > American

"The Awakening"

An analysis of the theme of feminist imagery in Kate Chopin's "The Awakening".

1,255 words () | 7 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how, brought up in the culturally rich atmosphere of 19th century Louisiana, Kate Chopin expressed her controversial views on feminism through her many novels, the most notable of which was "The Awakening". It looks at how the novel explores the confining role of women in the nineteenth century, depicting women protagonists who are independent and experience a passion that conflicts with the ideals of society. The paper also discusses how Chopin successfully illustrates her views of feminine paralysis through symbols of birds and injured freedom.

From the Paper:

"Bird imagery is also used in expressing how women were confined by society's ideal of the "mother-woman". Leonce Pontellier attributes his dissatisfaction of Edna's care of the children to the contrast between the mother-women at Grand Isle and his own wife. The mother-women are described as "fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm...threatened their precious brood" (Chopin). They "worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels" (Chopin). The women do not use their wings to soar above tradition and gain freedom, but to protect and nurture their children. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Bogarad, Carley Rees. "The Awakening: A Refusal to Compromise." Student Resource Center. 1977. The Gale Group. 3 Jun 2006 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SRC>.
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. Avon, 1899.
Davis, Sara deSaussure. "Kate Chopin." Literature Resource Center. 1982. The Gale Group. 24 Apr 2006 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/LitRC?vrsn=3&OP=contains&locID=east7 5249&srchtp=athr&ca=1&c=3&ste=6&tab=1&tbst=arp&ai=U13671193&n=10& docNum=H1200000919&ST=Kate+Chopin&bConts=16047>.
Green, Suzanne D. "Overview of The Awakening." Student Resource Center. 1998. The Gale Group. 6 Jun 2006 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SRC>.
"Katherine Chopin." Literature Resource Center. 28 Oct 2003. The Gale Group. 20 Apr 2006 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/LitRC?vrsn=3&OP=contains&locID=east7 5249&srchtp=athr&ca=1&c=1&ste=6&tab=1&tbst=arp&ai=U13671193&n=10& docNum=H1000017855&ST=Kate+Chopin&bConts=16047>.