West Forsyth Major Works Data Sheet AP Literature and Composition Class Period: 3A Title of Work: The A akenin!

Author: "ate Chopin Date of Pu#li$ation: %enre: Chara$teristi$s of the %enre:

&istori$al 'nformation a#out the Period of Pu#li$ation: The A akenin! as ritten durin! a time period hen omen ere still some hat oppressed( a theme that is re$urrent throu!h the #ook) 't as also ritten in a time period here dis$rimination a!ainst ra$es as still prominent( espe$ially in her home state of Louisiana) Around this time there as a lot of politi$ally insta#ility ithin the !o*ernment( ith a lot of riots ha*in! o$$urred in the past years) All of this insta#ility pushed people to hold ti!ht to their morals and so$ial standards( makin! a #ook su$h as the A akenin! hard to #e re$ei*ed durin! this time period)

+io!raphi$al 'nformation a#out the Author: "ate Chopin fa$ed a lot of hardships in her life) At the a!e of , her father died and she soon #e!an attendin! a Catholi$ pri*ate s$hool) Throu!hout her edu$ation she remained at the top of her $lass) She !re up surrounded #y her mother( !randmother and aunt ho ere all ido s( !i*in! her a sense of independen$e and stren!th amon! omen) %ro in! up she had *ery fe female $ompanions( e*en in her adult life) 'n -../ her hus#and died and left her 0 $hildren) 't as then that she #e!an ritin! as a ay to support her family) She rote stories( many of hi$h ere related to real people that she kne in Louisiana) The A akenin! is her most famous #ook and after its pu#li$ation she found it diffi$ult to #e pu#lished a!ain) She is #est kno n for the ay she pushed the en*elope and defied the #oundaries of so$iety)

Plot Summary: Chapters -1-2 The Awakening takes pla$e in the #e!innin! in the %rand 'sle( hi$h is a summer retreat for the ri$h of 3e 4rleans( Louisiana) 5dna Ponellier is *a$ationin! ith her family: her hus#and Leon$e( and her t o sons) They are stayin! in a $otta!e o ned #y Madame Le#run( hose eldest son( 6o#ert( later de*elops a lo*e interest ith 5dna( hose hus#and is $onstantly a ay on #usiness in 3e 4rleans) 5dna de*elops a relationship ith Adele 6ati!nolle( a married Creole oman ho tea$hes 5dna a#out freedom of e7pression) Adele is the epitome of ele!an$e and $harm in a oman( and is *ery open ith 5dna) %radually( 5dna #e!ins to open up and #e!in #ein! more so$ial and e7plore her repressed #eha*iors) As 5dna8s 9a akenin!: $ontinues( she de*elops a relationship ith 6o#ert Le#run( Madame Le#run8s eldest son) &e is kno n for $hoosin! one oman ea$h summer and #e$omin! her 9attendant(: and he $hooses 5dna) They spend their days alkin! alon! the shores( often ith Adele 6ati!nolle) While their relationship his harmless at first( 5dna and 6o#ert !ro $loser and $loser as the summer ears on) 5dna #e!ins to feel youn! and ali*e a!ain( and learns to s im and !radually de*elops independen$e and her se7uality) They ne*er a$tually talk a#out their lo*e openly( #ut 5dna !radually #e!ins to enjoy the moments ithout her hus#and more and #e$omes depressed hen he $omes #a$k from 3e 4rleans) 6o#ert( reali;in! here his relationship ith 5dna is headin!( remo*es himself from the island in order to prote$t #oth their honors) Chapters /<132 5dna !oes to *isit Mademoiselle 6eis; and finds out that she has mo*ed) So she !oes to Madame Le#run to find out here she mo*ed to) There she meets 6o#ert8s #rother( =i$tor( and they e7$han!e $on*ersation) 5dna dis$o*ers that they ha*e re$ei*ed letters from 6o#ert and it depresses her that she has not re$ei*ed any) Then Madame Le#run tells her here Mademoiselle 6eis; no li*es and 5dna lea*es) >pon arri*in! at Mademoiselle 6eis;8s house( she dis$o*ers that she too has re$ei*ed a letter from 6o#ert) Mademoiselle 6eis; tells 5dna 6o#ert ants her to play a son! for 5dna) 5dna is *ery $urious as to hat the letter says and asks to see it) Mademoiselle 6eis; refuses to sho her( #ut after mu$h #e!!in! she relents and hands 5dna the letter hile she plays the piano) The musi$ mo*es 5dna to tears as she listens to Mademoiselle 6eis;8s playin!) After ards 5dna lea*es ith the intent to *isit her a!ain) Leon$e *isits Dr) Mandelet for ad*i$e on 5dna) Dr) Mandelet in?uires a#out her then assures him that she is just !oin! throu!h a phase) &e then s$hedules a dinner appointment to eat ith them so that he $an study 5dna) 5dna8s father $omes to 3e 4rleans and stays ith 5dna) 4ne ni!ht hile her father is there Dr) Mandelet $omes #y for dinner) They ea$h de$ide to tell stories( Dr) Mandelet tells of a oman ho $omes #a$k to reality after follo in! her desires) 5dna then tells a made up story of a oman ho runs off ith her lo*er and Dr) Mandelet pi$ks up on its meanin!) 5dna refuses to !o to her sister8s eddin! so Leon$e !oes in her stead) &er $hildren also lea*e to !o to their !randmother8s house so 5dna is left all alone) Durin! this time she meets al$ee aro#in ho she starts an affair ith) She then de$ides to mo*e out #y herself to #e$ome more independent and does it ithout aitin! for her hus#and@s permission) After *isitin! Mademoiselle 6eis; a!ain she dis$o*ers that 6o#ert ill soon #e returnin! home) 5dna finally di*ul!es her lo*e for 6o#ert to Mademoiselle 6eis; after ards) A fe days later she returns to Mademoiselle 6eis;@s house( #ut she is not home so 5dna lets herself in to ait for her) A little #it later 6o#ert arri*es at the house findin! 5dna instead of Mademoiselle 6eis;) They !o to 5dna@s house to ha*e dinner and Al$ee sho s up( surprised #y this 6o#ert lea*es and Al$ee plants ideas that 6o#ert $ould ha*e #een ith another oman in Me7i$o) Disheartened( 5dna aits day after day for 6o#ert@s return) She !oes out ith Al$ee a!ain #ut does not feel fulfilled #y him anymore) 4ne day she meets 6o#ert out at a restaurant and they !o #a$k to!ether to 5dna8s home) There 6o#ert $onfesses his true thou!hts and feelin!s for 5dna #ut they are interrupted #y Adele !oin! into la#or) 5dna lea*es to !o #e ith her friend #ut desperately ants to return #a$k) After the #a#y is #orn Adele !i*es her ad*i$e to think of her $hildren) Dr) Mandelet !oes ith 5dna #a$k home tryin! to also !i*e her ad*i$e and tells her she $an talk to him hene*er she needs help) She de$lines( de$larin! her independen$e) 5dna returns to her house e7pe$tin! 6o#ert #ut only finds a letter tellin! her he had to lea*e #e$ause he lo*es her and he kno s it ould ne*er ork out in their so$iety) 5dna !oes #a$k to %rand 'sle and meets =i$tor and Marie?uita) She then !oes out to the #ea$h $ontemplatin! the past e*ents) Feelin! the sorro and !rief inside her she remo*es her #athin! suit and alks into the o$ean( feelin! free for the first time in her life)

Des$ription of the Author8s Style:

57ample that Demonstrates Style and 57planation:

Memora#le Auotations -) Auotation Band SpeakerC: 94hD We8ll treat Sister Eanet #etter than that( my dear): F Mr) Pontellier BA$t 3C Si!nifi$an$e: This ?uote helps to sho the personality of Mr) Pontellier) &e as a !enerous and flatterin! man) &e did thin!s in a sho y manner and in turn other ladies ere jealous of 5dna) &o e*er( 5dna did not al ays a!ree ith him and his e7tra*a!an$e did not mean as mu$h to her and others #elie*ed) 6o#ert8s ords here to 5dna sho his influen$e o*er her and also her desire to spend time ith him) She did not kno hy she ent #athin! ith him( and it as as if it as an impulse) 't as after this e*ent that she #e!an to reali;e somethin! as !oin! on in her head( a future pro#lem that ould o*ertake her) 5dna kne deep do n that a$tin! on su$h #eha*ior as dan!erous( #ut she $ould not $ontrol her feelin!s as sho n throu!h this in$ident) This ?uote $omes from a $on*ersation held #et een Adele and 6o#ert) Adele is $on$erned ith 6o#ert and 5dna8s relationship) This first part of the ?uote adds si!nifi$an$e to the fa$t that 5dna is different from the people around her) She has a different #a$k!round and has not al ays fit in) This differen$e $an help a$$ount for her different nature and it is sho n here that Adele senses some future pro#lems) She is a friend of Adele and she kno s the ay in hi$h 6o#ert $ondu$ts himself and she is smart enou!h to kno that dan!er $ould #e in the future) Mademoiselle 6eis;( like 5dna( is not $ompletely like e*eryone else in the $ommunity) She is an out$ast( and her and Adele ha*e a uni?ueness in $ommon) &er playin! mo*es 5dna so mu$h that she loses herself for a moment) These ords spoken #y Mademoiselle 6eis; sho that she kno s 5dna is different than e*eryone and she ants to play for her #e$ause she kno s that it means somethin!) &er ords also help foreshado their future friendship) 5dna8s ords and learnin! to s im e7perien$e is a hu!e definin! moment for her) 't $omes as a re*elation and it8s as if she as freed) A sense of independen$e as formed in her and she had finally taken a hu!e leap) She as happy in the ater and did not ha*e to orry a#out other people) This sho s that 6o#ert has !reat interest in 5dna( #ut refuses to di*ul!e the se$ret to 5dna due to her marria!e ith Leon$e) This also in$reases 5dna8s interest in 6o#ert( and her in*ol*ement in the life of Mademoiselle 6eis;)

/)

9Gou mustn8t miss your #ath) Come on) The ater must #e deli$iousH it ill not hurt you) Come): F6o#ert BA$t ,C

3)

9She is not one of usH she is not like us) She mi!ht take the unfortunate #lunder of takin! you seriously) F Madame 6ati!nolle BA$t .C

I)

9Gou are the only one orth playin! for) Those othersJ +ahD: F Mademoiselle 6eis; BA$t 2C

,)

9't is nothin!( hy did ' not dis$o*er it #efore that it as nothin!) Think of the time ' ha*e lost splashin! a#out like a #a#y): F 5dna Pontellier BA$t -<C

K)

9't as ritten a#out you( not to you) L&a*e you seen Mrs)PontellierJ &o is she lookin!J8 he asks) LAs Mrs) Pontellier says(8 or Las Mrs) Pontellier on$e said)8 L'f Mrs) Pontellier should $all upon you( play for her that 'mpromptu of Chopin8s( my fa*orite) ' heard it here a day or t o a!o( #ut not as you play it) ' should like to kno ho it affe$ts her(8 and so on( as if he supposed e ere $onstantly in ea$h other8s so$iety): BMademoiselle 6eis;( P!) .IC

0)

9Gou ha*e #een a *ery( *ery foolish #oy( astin! your time dreamin! of impossi#le thin!s hen you speak of Mr) Pontellier settin! me freeD ' am not lon!er one of Mr) Pontellier8s possessions to dispose of or not) ' !i*e myself here ' $hoose) 'f he ere to say( L&ere( 6o#ert( take her and #e happyH she is yours(8 ' should lau!h at you #oth):B5dna( P!) -I,C Ges( ' ill #lame you if you don8t $ome and see me soon) We ill talk of thin!s you ne*er ha*e dreamt of talkin! a#out #efore) 't ill do us #oth !ood) ' don8t ant you to #lame yourself( hate*er $omes) %ood1 ni!ht( my $hild): BDr) Mandelet( P!)-,<C

This sho s the inner orkin!s of 5dna8s mind( and is the most out ard display of 5dna8s reali;ation of herself as an independent person) 5dna no lon!er #elie*es that she is tied to her hus#and( and only is to do hat he ants her to) Throu!h her relations ith Aro#in and 6o#ert and the pi!eon house( she has reali;ed that she and her hus#and are separate entities and she $an su$$eed ithout a man) This ?uote( spoken to 5dna( sho s that 5dna8s independent and uni?ue mindset has #e$ome apparent) Dr) Mandelet8s misinterpretation of her independen$e as a mental disorder also sho s that 5dna8s mindset is dis$oura!ed like it ere psy$hoti$( and is so un$ommon that it is like a mental disorder) 't seems that 5dna8s natural instin$t for freedom is #ein! $ast as a disease and somethin! to #e suppressed) This ?uote sho s that some of 5dna8s friends re$o!ni;e that 5dna has #een in*ol*ed ith Aro#in( or at least re$o!ni;e that 5dna8s mindset is unusual and $ould lead to trou#le) This ?uote foreshado s ho in*ol*ed 5dna ill #e$ome in the li*es of other men #esides her hus#and) This ?uote also !i*es 5dna a arnin! to re*ert #a$k to a proper oman #efore she #e$omes too in*ol*ed)

.)

2)

9'n some ay you seem to me like a $hild( 5dna) Gou seem to a$t ithout a $ertain amount of refle$tion hi$h is ne$essary in this life) That is the reason ' ant to say you mustn8t mind if ' ad*ise you to #e a little $areful hile you are li*in! here alone) Why don8t you ha*e some one $ome and stay ith youJ Wouldn8t Mademoiselle 6eis; $omeJ: BMadame 6ati!nolle( P! -/2C

-<) 9Pontellier( let your ife alone for a hile) Don8t #other her( and don8t let her #other you) Woman( my dear friend( is a *ery pe$uliar and deli$ate or!anism F a sensiti*e and hi!hly or!ani;ed oman( su$h as ' kno Mrs) Pontellier to #e( is espe$ially pe$uliar) 't ould re?uire an inspired psy$holo!ist to deal su$$essfully ith them) And hen ordinary fello s like you and me attempt to $ope ith their idiosyn$rasies the result is #un!lin!) Most omen are moody and himsi$al) This is some passin! him of your ife( due to some $ause or $auses hi$h you and ' needn8t try to fathom) +ut it ill pass happily o*er( espe$ially if you let her alone) Send her around to see me): BDr) Mandelet( P!) .2C)

Dr) Mandelet8s ad*i$e pushes Mr) Pontellier and 5dna8s $hildren a ay from 5dna) This allo s 5dna to de*elop her independen$e) After the restraints to her freedom are pushed a ay( 5dna de*elops into an indi*idual and #e$omes rash and re$kless in her desire to #e$ome independent) She sees other men and !ets another house in order to ha*e a physi$al di*ision #et een her independent self and her restrained self) 't is the do$tor8s ad*i$e that e*entually leads to 5dna8s ne life and e*entual sui$ide)

Chara$ter8s 3ame: -) 5dna Pontellier

/)

Leon$e Pontellier

3)

6o#ert Le#run

Major Chara$ters 6ole BWhat role does this person Si!nifi$an$e BWhy is this ha*e in the storyJC: $hara$ter si!nifi$ant to the storyJC: 5dna is the main $hara$ter of the 5dna is representati*e of the no*el) She is married to Leon$e so$ietal $onstraints fa$ed #y Pontellier( and is in lo*e ith omen at the time) She 6o#ert Le#run) She has t o e7perien$es 9a akenin!: hen $hildren( 6aoul and 5tienne( she learns to s im at %rand 'sle) hom she spends little She !ains a ne sense of si!nifi$ant time ith) When she independen$e) She #e!ins to returns to 3e 4rleans( she ant a ne life for herself hen spends a lot of time paintin!( and she returns to 3e 4rleans) &er she mo*es into the pi!eon house) mo*e into the pi!eon house She has an affair ith Al$ee represents her first step to ard Aro#in and hen 6o#ert Le#run her freedom) Despite her lo*e returns from Me7i$o( she for 6o#ert( 5dna feels that she is $onfesses her lo*e for him) At the still trapped #y so$iety) She $an end of the no*el she dro ns ne*er #e her o n indi*idual( so herself at %rand 'sle) she dro ns in the aters here she learned to s im) Leon$e is 5dna8s hus#and) &e is Leon$e is the stereotypi$al de*oted to ork and spends hus#and of =i$torian Ameri$a) mu$h of the story a ay on &e is de*oted to his ife( and #usiness) When 5dna is at %rand sho s it in little ays( su$h as 'sle( he $an only $ome on the sendin! her #on#ons hile he is eekends( and hen they return a ay) &o e*er( he is also to 3e 4rleans( he is ?ui$k to o*erprote$ti*e of 5dna and take another #usiness trip) for$eful a#out her manner) &e orries a#out hat so$iety thinks) When 5dna mo*ed into the pi!eon house( he made sure an arti$le as pu#lished in the paper dis$ussin! the reno*ation of their old home) Leon$e i!nores hat #others him) &e asks the do$tor a#out 5dna8s irrational #eha*ior and the do$tor su!!ests that 5dna #e left alone) Leon$e is only too !lad to o#li!e) 6o#ert and his family o n the 6o#ert is the romanti$ in this *a$ation homes at !rand isle) realist no*el) After the first 6o#ert is flirtatious( and he is se$tion of the no*el in %rand 5dna8s main lo*e interest) &e 'sle( 6o#ert reali;es he is fallin! spends mu$h of the no*el in in lo*e ith 5dna) &e lea*es on Me7i$o) a trip to Me7i$o and only rites to his family and to Mademoiselle 6eis;) &e a*oids ritin! to 5dna #e$ause he is afraid that e7pressin! his lo*e for her ould lead to disaster) &e $ares a#out 5dna deeply( #ut fears that she may not feel the same ay and does not ant to ruin her married life) 6o#ert and his romanti$ism almost in out at the no*el8s end) &e and 5dna $onfess their lo*e for one another( and 6o#ert su!!ests that they !et married) &o e*er( the

Chara$ter Traits BWhat sort of person is thisJC: 5dna is $hara$teri;ed as a stron! $hara$ter) She is stron! illed and does not e7press her innermost emotions) She has her o n !oals in life that she tries to a$hie*e( #ut in the end( she fails( #e$ause( stron! thou!h she is( so$iety ill not allo her to li*e as she ishes) "ate Chopin ants to portray 5dna( the female $hara$ter as stron!( despite the time she li*es in) Adjectives: Self a are( Stu##orn( Selfish( Torn( Confused) Leon$e is portrayed as a eak $hara$ter) &e lea*es hene*er life !ets too tou!h for him) &is disappearan$e for$es 5dna to make her o n de$isions) Adjectives: Con$erned( Affe$tionate( Co ardly)

6o#ert $ould #e $hara$teri;ed as stron! or eak) &e has a stron! personality( and in the end( he reali;es that he $annot deny his lo*e for 5dna( despite the so$iety around him) &o e*er( he also spends mu$h of the #ook in Me7i$o hidin! from his feelin!s) 6o#ert is male( so he has some eak nature to him( #ut Chopin ants to sho the readers that 6o#ert is unusual( hi$h is hy he $an #e stron! as ell) Adjectives: Flirtatious( 6omanti$( Charmin!( Carin!)

I)

Al$ee Aro#in

When Leon$e is a ay on #usiness( and 6o#ert is in Me7i$o( 5dna has an affair ith Aro#in) &e purposefully tries to sedu$e 5dna)

no*el itself is naturalism( the pessimisti$ form of realism) 5dna reali;es she $an ne*er li*e ho she ants to( e*en if she marries 6o#ert) 5dna uses her physi$al affair ith Aro#in to for!et 6o#ert8s a#sen$e) Aro#in purposefully tries to make 5dna fall for him( #ut fails( #e$ause 5dna is really in lo*e ith 6o#ert)

Aro#in is a eak $hara$ter) &e !ets physi$al affe$tion from 5dna( #ut does not en!a!e her in a real emotional relationship) She ne*er really lo*es him( and $annot lo*e him as she lo*es 6o#ert) Adjectives: Cunnin!( Sedu$ti*e( De$eitful)

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Mademoiselle 6eis;

Mademoiselle 6eis; is a friend of 5dna8s) She is a musi$ian( ho plays the piano) She has no $hildren and no hus#and)

She en$oura!es 5dna8s lo*e for 6o#ert and 5dna8s passion for paintin!) She kno s that 5dna ants to li*e a life of her o n and ants 5dna to #e$ome #ra*e enou!h to do so)

Mademoiselle 6eis; is a stron! $hara$ter) She stays true to herself( and her passion for musi$ throu!hout the no*el) 4ther $hara$ters #elie*e her to #e sket$hy #e$ause she does not $onform to so$ietal norms) She is a stron! $hara$ter and a female( hi$h promotes Chopin8s feminist messa!e) Adjectives: Mysterious( 'ndependent( >nusual( Fas$inatin!)

K)

Adele 6ati!nolle

Madame 6ati!nolle #efriends 5dna at %rand 'sle( thou!h the t o omen are *ery different) Madame 6ati!nolle is married and has se*eral $hildren and is pre!nant throu!h most of the no*el ith another $hild)

Madame 6ati!nolle is 5dna8s foil) She and 5dna are friends( #ut they are opposites) Madame 6ati!nolle is your typi$al =i$torian mother) She is de*oted to her hus#and and to her $hildren) She is a Creole and is more illin! to e7press her inner feelin!s( hereas 5dna tries to $on$eal hers) Leon$e does lea*e 5dna alone on the do$tor8s ad*i$e) &e lea*es on a #usiness trip and doesn8t return for the rest of the no*el) 't is #e$ause of the do$tor8s ad*i$e that 5dna is !i*en lee ay to a$t on her o n free ill) The do$tor reali;es that 5dna may #e in lo*e ith someone else( thou!h he does not tell Leon$e) &e hopes that it is not Aro#in) &e is Protestant( unlike the Creole population in 3e 4rleans) &e does not #elie*e in open e7pression of feelin!s( and he #elie*es that hus#ands should

Madame 6ati!nolle is a stron! $hara$ter) She li*es under so$iety8s $onstraints #ut she remains happy) She is a#le to e7press her feelin!s( and she really does lo*e her hus#and and her $hildren) Adjectives: 57pressi*e( Motherly( "ind( Pleasant) The do$tor is a fairly neutral $hara$ter) &e sees the stru!!les of 5dna and those of Leon$e and he ants to do hat he $an to help #oth $hara$ters) &is attempt does not su$$eed) Adjectives: Con$erned( Serious( 'nsi!htful)

0)

Do$tor Mandalet

Leon$e talks to the do$tor hen he and 5dna return to 3e 4rleans) Leon$e has noti$ed that 5dna has #een #eha*in! stran!ely) The do$tor tells Leon$e that he should lea*e 5dna alone)

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5dna8s Father

&e $omes to *isit 5dna and Leon$e hen they ha*e returned from %rand 'sle)

5dna8s father is a neutral $hara$ter) &e follo s so$ietal $onstraints( #ut his purpose in the story is to remind 5dna of her $hildhood)

ha*e $ontrol o*er their i*es) This is the so$iety that 5dna ants to es$ape from( yet her *isit ith her father $auses no trou#le until she refuses to lea*e and attend her sister8s eddin!) After her father has left( 5dna is !lad to ha*e more freedom) 2)

Adjectives: %ruff( 4pinionated( 6eli!ious)

-<)

Des$ription of the Settin!BsC and the Mood the Settin!BsC Create: %rand 'sle: The no*el opens and ends in this settin! hi$h is the 9*a$ation: lo$ation of many Creole families) 'n the #e!innin!( 5dna starts to feel like an outsider #e$ause she isn8t a Creole and is from "entu$ky) 4n the island( she #e!ins to reali;e that she isn8t happy ith her hus#and( LMon$e and therefore #e!ins to ha*e feelin!s for 6o#ert) She also #e!ins to e7press her feelin!s to her Creole friends AdNle and Mademoiselle 6eis; and learns to #e$ome more independent) 4ne of 5dna8s #i!!est a$$omplishments is s immin! out into the o$ean #y herself( independently) This settin! is here she a$ts more 9$hildish: as ell( instead of an adult #y #e$omin! upset easily and al ays leanin! on 6o#ert for help) 'n the end of the no*el( 5dna kills herself #y s immin! out into the o$ean naked to make herself feel independent) Mood: 6isin! of emotions Traditional &ome: The home that she li*es in 3e 4rleans or the Fren$h Auarter that she mostly spends li*in! there #y herself) She reali;es she isn8t happy ithout 6o#ert ith her e*eryday and feels like this home is too #i! for her to just #e in) While li*in! in this home( she has a L#irthday party8 held #efore she lea*es for the 9pi!eon: home and feels like she al ays has to *isit her other friends from the island to #rin! #a$k the memories of 6o#ert) Moods: Trapped( $onfused 9Pi!eon: &ome: This house 5dna #uys and mo*es into just a fe #lo$ks do n from her family home) This is 5dna8s se$ond #i!!est step to ards feelin! independent( the first learnin! ho to s im on her o n) This infuriates her hus#and #e$ause omen just didn8t mo*e out on their o n at this time) As a result he has to 9$o*er1up: for her #y sayin! that she mo*ed there due to reno*ations on their other home) 'n this settin!( 5dna has t o affairsH an emotional and physi$al one( ith 6o#ert and Al$Me Aro#in respe$ti*ely) While #a$k in 3e 4rleans( 5dna a$ts more 9$hild1like: #e$ause of these affairs and not $arin! hether or not anyone appro*ed) Mood: 'ndependen$e Major Sym#ols( Motifs( 'ma!es: Symbols: The o$ean at %rand 'sle represents li#eration for 5dna) At the #e!innin! of the no*el( 5dna does not kno ho to s im) She !radually learns ho to s im and it a akens her thou!hts) 5dna reali;es that she has missed out on a lot in life) The o$ean is *ast and full of opportunity and 5dna al ays found herself #a$k at the o$ean) &er sui$ide in the o$ean represents her final attempt for freedom) There is nothin! that $an restrain her in the o$ean) +irds repeatedly appear in The Awakening to sym#oli;e 5dna and ho she is trapped in her o n life) The #irds are $a!ed and denied of any freedom( just like 5dna is) 5dna tries o*er and o*er a!ain to es$ape from a so$iety she does not #elon! in #ut ultimately ends up $a!ed herself) 5dna@s sui$ide and mo*e to the pi!eon house are e7amples of her attempts to #reak a ay) The #ird ith a #roken in! represents 5dna and her disa#ility to #e$ome free) Another important sym#ol in the no*el is $lothin!) Throu!hout The Awakening( 5dna !oes from earin! a lot of $lothin! to less

Si!nifi$an$e of the 4penin! S$ene: The #ook opens ith Mr) Pontellier sittin! on the por$h of the !uest house( attemptin! to read the paper) The $alm settin! is only interrupted #y the talkin! of Madame Le#run8s parrot( and the $hirpin! of her mo$kin!#ird) The #irds represent 5dna Pontellier( as they are $a!ed and are la$kin! #oth freedom and independen$e) Mr) Pontellier rises( as the #irds are annoyin! him ith their $onstant noise1makin!( and !oes to his $otta!e to read the paper) 5n 6oute( he o#ser*es many s$enes that $ontri#ute to the time period and settin!( from the t o !irls 9playin! a duet from LOampa8 upon the piano(: to Madame Le#run 9#ustlin!: around( takin! $are of thin!s( and !i*in! orders to ser*ants( hi$h all ser*e to portray a 9hi!h so$iety: that is !enerally free from menial tasks and $ares) &e sees his ife returnin! from the #ea$h( and hen he arri*es( he s$olds her for $hoosin! to s im late in the day and !ettin! a sun#urn) After he looks at her 9as one looks at a *alua#le pie$e of personal property: Bfurther alludin! to the time period and omen8s tenden$ies to #e *ie ed as #elon!in! to the hus#andC he !i*es her rin!s #a$k( and de$ides to !o play #illiards) 5dna de$ides to stay ith 6o#ert on the por$h( and Mr) Pontellier !oes off to play pool)

Si!nifi$an$e of the 5ndin!PClosin! S$ene: 5dna approa$hes the %rand 'sle house alone and en$ounters =i$tor and Marie?uita) She is physi$ally $alm as she en?uires a#out dinner( #ut as she alks do n to the #ea$h to 9dip her toes in: B--IC( her thou!hts are ra$in!) She reali;es no that no man ill e*er make her happy if he isn8t 6o#ert) When her hus#and returns she ill no lon!er ha*e the outlet to #e the oman she had #e$ome that summer) 't is apt that 5dna returned to %rand 'sle for her final es$ape( as it is the lo$ation of her initial 9a akenin!): She learned to s im in the %ulf( hi$h is representati*e of her ne found independen$e and freedom( so it is fittin! that she ould return to those aters) She puts her #athin! suit on as she does at the #e!innin! on the no*ella( #ut this time she 9$asts the unpleasant( pri$klin! !arments from her: B--,C( just as she had shirked so$iety8s e7pe$tations) Another element that mirrors pre*ious s$enes is a #ird) 'n this s$ene the #ird has a #roken in! and plummets into the ater( hi$h sym#oli;es ho 5dna has lost her freedom alon! ith the loss of 6o#ert) She is heart#roken and depressed) Adele8s $hild#irth is also a moti*ation of her apparent sui$ideH she is !reatly upset #y the s$ene and in the final $hapter refers to her $hildren as 9anta!onists ho had o*er$ome her: B--,C) Su$h a $old thou!ht from a mother a#out her $hildren

$lothin! than any other female of that time) &er transformation represents her stri*e to #e independent and re#el a!ainst the so$iety she li*es in) Motifs: The ord Qa akeQ is a motif of The Awakening seein! that different *ariations of the ord appeared all throu!h the no*el) The ord represents 5dna akin! up and reali;in! she is tired of #ein! $onfined #y so$iety) The role of omen in the so$iety is another motif #e$ause it represents a #i! $onstraint that 5dna ants to es$ape from) Women in this time are *ery restri$ted) They ha*e to dress a $ertain ay and #eha*e a $ertain ay) They are the e7a$t thin! that 5dna does not ant to #e and help push 5dna to her sui$ide) Themes:

makes $lear 5dna8s o*er helmin! despair) 5dna also *ie s the o$ean as an es$ape from oppressi*e so$iety) She thinks the sound of the sea is 9in*itin! the soul to ander in a#ysses of solitude: B--,C) 'n the end( 5dna !i*es #oth her thou!hts and her #ody to the $hurnin! a*es)

'dentity 1 5dna does not like #ein! referred to as a ife or a mother #e$ause of the restri$tions that $ome alon! ith the la#els) 'n the =i$torian A!e there ere ideal ima!es of a ife and mother( just as there are today) So$ial rules and $riti$ism !o hand in hand ith these ima!es and 5dna does not ant stereotypes to define her as a person) Throu!h the no*el she has her 9a akenin!: and #reaks out of her roles as a mother and hus#and #y takin! her life) 6oles of omen 1 Women in the =i$torian a!e are *ie ed as people ho are only supposed to !et married and e*entually take $are of a family) Their so$iety does not appro*e of oman follo in! their o n dreams of a $areer or anythin! of that sorts) This is de*eloped throu!hout the #ook #y $ontrastin! the perfe$t ife( Adele( ith the re#ellin! ife( 5dna) Adele sho s all the $hara$teristi$s of an ideal oman in their so$iety and 5dna re#els a!ainst it) Marria!e 1The $omple7ity of a marria!e is sho n throu!hout this #ook in 5dna and Leon$e8s relationship) 5dna sees other people marrai!es and $ompares it ith her o n and she $omes the *erdi$t that she hates it) To her( it is nothin! #ut somethin! that #inds you do n) Also she ants to #e an indi*idual and #ein! in a marrai!e takes a ay from her indi*idualism) 6eputation 1 6eputation is hu!e in this #ook and it is sho n throu!h the $hara$ters Mr) Pontellier and Al$ee Aro#in) Mr) Pontellier is rapped up in his reputation) &e ants all of his peers( espe$ially his #usiness peers( to see him as perfe$t) &e makes e7plinations for 5dna mo*in! into another house to prote$t her reputation) Also Aro#in sho s readers ho dama!in! a reputation is for people in this so$iety #e$ause he is #asi$ally looked do n upon as a man hore) Possi#le Topi$sPAuestions for Dis$ussion: What is the importan$e of the titleJ &o does the title relate to the no*elJ What is the role of omen in the te7t and ho ould the no*el #e different if omen ere not an important partJ Compare and $ontrast the $hara$teristi$s of the main omen: Adele( 5dna( and Mademoiselle 6eis;) Why do you think this no*el is normally $onsidered a pie$e of feminist literatureJ What is the si!nifi$an$e of 5dna alkin! into the ater naked as she is a#out to kill herselfJ