The Awakeningby Kate Chopin
Fiction - Enriched Classic
Pocket Books, 1899
Summary: The Awakening is a story about a woman’s quest for independence and her resistance to the expectations of marriage and family during the turn of the century and within the aristocratic New Orleans Creole society. The story opens with the main character, Edna Pontellier, living in a boarding house that is part of a resort community known as Grand Isle, Louisiana, with her husband and children. Her husband is frequently elsewhere with business affairs and she feels subjugated to caring for her children, although, they are regularly tended to by a nanny. Ms. Pontellier takes an interest in Madame Lebrun’s, the landowner, attractive young son, Robert. Upon figuring out her own love for Robert, Edna abandons her duties as a wife and mother by sending her children away during one of her husband’s extensive business trips and gains the short term freedom she was so desperate for by painting for a living and renting a house. In a manner of time, Ms. Pontellier submits to the charm of another man. Furthermore, by way of chance meeting, Ms. Pontellier happens to reunite with Robert in an emotional encounter. Unfortunately, reality returns to her life and she must sacrifice her affections for Robert and forgo her pristine freedom to resume her role of wife and mother once again.
Themes: Literal and figural “awakening,” female sexuality, infidelity, freedom, death
Rationale for Use: This well written novel with multiple literary elements is easy to read, yet it introduces new vocabulary in regards to the setting, well developed character descriptions, and common language within the community.
Possible Concerns: Ms. Pontellier’s extramarital sexual desires may be considered inappropriate for the adolescent age range.
~Tammy Hoak
I was surprised by the copywrite date so I googled it and found the whole story is online so maybe I'll read it electronically. -Debbe
ReplyDeleteI remember reading this novel in a Southern Women Writers class in college and loving it. I wish I could I could teach in 11th grade English however it is taught at the 12th grade AP level. I may try to convince my department head to let us teach this because it is such a good story about finding yourself and your independence. Heather Dobbs
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a book I might like to read. However, it doesn't sound like a book I would recommend for my 7th grade English classes. I would be hesistant about the extra marital affair part. Belinda Todd
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