I had never read The Awakening, but I knew it was written by Chopin so I would enjoy it. The story follows Edna Pontellier. It focuses on her "self discovery". Edna has never had the chance to be "just herself". Her role in life is to be a wife and mother, and to be happy with that. The story follows the time when Edna discovers she is more than a wife and mother, she is a human being with her own thoughts and desires. Chopin tells us that Edna had existed in a dual life since she was a child; "that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions." (Chopin, 1899)
I am happy that I live in a time in history when society has less expectation that I be a wife or a mother. I am free to just live as a human being, to fulfill my own desires and aspirations. For the most part in our current America society it is no scandal if you never marry, or have children. I enjoy being able to decide on my own what path in life I will chose, to not know that I MUST get married and produce children. Personally, I would like to have children and get married, but it takes pressure off when you know you have time to yourself before you choose.
Edna Pontellier's story reminds me of the Carly Simon song, That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be. The song is sung from the point of view of a woman, in the 1970's, who wants to be free to find herself. However, she is feeling pressure from her boyfriend to get married. My favorite line of the song is "You say we'll soar like two birds through the clouds, But soon you'll cage me on your shelf -I'll never learn to be just me first. By myself" (Simon,1971). I think Edna Pontellier has experienced the same feelings as the woman in the song, but Edna Pontellier was not permitted the opportunity to give credence to her personal desires.
During my research on the story The Awakening I found that ,even though the book was written in 1899, it was listed on challenged/banned book list in 2011. It is obvious to me why this book would have been shunned in the past. It focuses on a Edna Pontellier finding herself. However, in the process, she leaves has an affair, leaves her husband and children, and eventually commits suicide. Conservative people would want to keep thoughts of this nature out of the minds of the "easily influenced". You can often find censorship when the topic of suicide is brought up.
Description: Library Walk New York City
Original image can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Library_Walk_30.JPG
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