The Awakening by Kate Choplin is an amazing and detailed story with plenty of symbolism about a woman trying and wanting very much to break away from the life of the expected woman of the time period. The book is based around the late 1800's, where women were expected to be married, have children and tend to their every need and be ordered by men, mostly their husbands. But Edna is definitely not like that, although she starts out with a husband who she marries to rebel against her father and sister becasue she did not like the man she wanted to marry. She then has children with her husband, and then she comes along a man named Robert, who at first she pushes away but in the end she wants him more than anything and feels hopeless without. Before she falls completely head over heels with Roberts she begin to dislike and becomes insanely annoyed of Mr. Pontellier, her husband to the point where she tries to crush there wedding ring because she is so unhappy. Edna is not even happy with her children. She likes her children but does not care and mother them like she should. It really seems like she is very depressed and does not know what love really is or even how to love. One thing that really leads to her depression is the fact that she keeps so much to herself, and the only thing that makes her calm and brings her peace is the ocean.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
"She heard the barking of an old dog that was chained to he sycamore tree. The spurs of the cavalry officer clanged as he walked across the porch. There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of pinks filled the air."
"She heard the barking of an old dog that was chained to he sycamore tree. The spurs of the cavalry officer clanged as he walked across the porch. There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of pinks filled the air." - page 128
As Mrs. Pontellier swam out into the sea she began thinking about everything all at once as she got farther and farther away from the shore and as she began tiring from swimming. She maybe refers to the old dog on a leech chained to a tree as her in her life she lived that she did not want. Always having to keep to herself, and the officer being someone she possibly being the doctor that she could have confided everything in. But then she hears humming bee's through all the craziness and musky calming scent, where she has found happiness and peace.
As Mrs. Pontellier swam out into the sea she began thinking about everything all at once as she got farther and farther away from the shore and as she began tiring from swimming. She maybe refers to the old dog on a leech chained to a tree as her in her life she lived that she did not want. Always having to keep to herself, and the officer being someone she possibly being the doctor that she could have confided everything in. But then she hears humming bee's through all the craziness and musky calming scent, where she has found happiness and peace.
"She thought of Leonce and the children. They were apart of her life. But they need not have thought that they could posses her, body and soul."
"She thought of Leonce and the children. They were apart of her life. But they need not have thought that they could posses her, body and soul." - page 128
Mrs. Pontellier is swimming in the sea in her calming and soothing place of all the places in the world. And as she is swimming she things of Mr. Pontellier and their children and how they did not mean as much to her as they should have. They did not mean enough for her to want to stay around and be with them as she should have been, although for a long period of her life they were in it and yet they never meant much to her.
Mrs. Pontellier is swimming in the sea in her calming and soothing place of all the places in the world. And as she is swimming she things of Mr. Pontellier and their children and how they did not mean as much to her as they should have. They did not mean enough for her to want to stay around and be with them as she should have been, although for a long period of her life they were in it and yet they never meant much to her.
"you seem to me to be in trouble. I am not going to ask for our confidence. I will only say that if ever you feel moved to give it to me, perhaps I might help you."
"you seem to me to be in trouble. I am not going to ask for our confidence. I will only say that if ever you feel moved to give it to me, perhaps I might help you." - page 123
The family doctor for Mr. Pontellier says this to Mrs. Pontellier. Her husband had went to the doctor to see if her could figure out what was wrong with her and bothering her. But the doctor only told him to leave her be and let her alone. Bascially the family doctor is going behind her husbands back to see what is wrong with her to maybe see if it is another man or whatever may be bothering Mrs. Pontellier.
The family doctor for Mr. Pontellier says this to Mrs. Pontellier. Her husband had went to the doctor to see if her could figure out what was wrong with her and bothering her. But the doctor only told him to leave her be and let her alone. Bascially the family doctor is going behind her husbands back to see what is wrong with her to maybe see if it is another man or whatever may be bothering Mrs. Pontellier.
"The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting to the soul to wonder in abysses of solitude."
"The voices of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting to the soul to wonder in abysses of solitude." - page 127
Mrs. Pontellier feels that through everything that complicates her life which causes her depression and makes her completely unhappy she feels that the ocean is the one thing she can come to and takes her mind completely away from all the heart break and unhappiness of her life. It soothes her and comforts and is practically the only thing in the world that can bring her to peace. The ocean is definitely something for her that symbolizes peace and solitude.
Mrs. Pontellier feels that through everything that complicates her life which causes her depression and makes her completely unhappy she feels that the ocean is the one thing she can come to and takes her mind completely away from all the heart break and unhappiness of her life. It soothes her and comforts and is practically the only thing in the world that can bring her to peace. The ocean is definitely something for her that symbolizes peace and solitude.
"To-day it is Arobin; to-morrow it will be some one else."
"To-day it is Arobin; to-morrow it will be some one else." - page 126
Mrs. Pontellier says this, and when she says this she is saying how she believes that it does not matter who thinks they love her like Arobin or her husband. One day someone will care for her and love her or just be very emotionally attached to her, and the next day it could be someone else. But that does not matter to her, all the matter's is Robert and her love for him. No one or nothing could matter but him and with out that she feels so hopeless and completely unwanted.
Mrs. Pontellier says this, and when she says this she is saying how she believes that it does not matter who thinks they love her like Arobin or her husband. One day someone will care for her and love her or just be very emotionally attached to her, and the next day it could be someone else. But that does not matter to her, all the matter's is Robert and her love for him. No one or nothing could matter but him and with out that she feels so hopeless and completely unwanted.
"In some way you seem to me like a child, Edna. You seem to act without a certain amount of reflection which is necessary in this life."
"In some ways yous eem to me like a child, Edna. You seem to act without a certain amount of reflection which is necessary in this life." - page 106
Mademoiselle says this to Mrs. Pontellier. She says this to her explaining how Mrs. Pontellier thinks like child, with the way she acts and thinks on impulse. In other words she does not think before she acts. Which in life its key that a person or adult think before acting so they do not get judged or criticized for doing wrong or out of the ordinary. Which is exactly how Mrs. Pontellier is, she acts upon what she thinks for herself and not for the other around her.
Mademoiselle says this to Mrs. Pontellier. She says this to her explaining how Mrs. Pontellier thinks like child, with the way she acts and thinks on impulse. In other words she does not think before she acts. Which in life its key that a person or adult think before acting so they do not get judged or criticized for doing wrong or out of the ordinary. Which is exactly how Mrs. Pontellier is, she acts upon what she thinks for herself and not for the other around her.
"Ah! here comes the sunlight!"
"Ah! here comes the sunlight!" page - 87
Mrs. Pontellier's close friend, Mademoiselle says this to Mrs. Pontellier as she walks in the door. It's kind of off putting that Mademoiselle says this to her because Mrs. Pontellier is clearly so unhappy and basically so depressed with her life. Maybe she refers to her as sunlight because she is so different, Mrs. Pontelliers motives and wants for her life is so unlike an other woman of the time. It may be something she looks up too.
Mrs. Pontellier's close friend, Mademoiselle says this to Mrs. Pontellier as she walks in the door. It's kind of off putting that Mademoiselle says this to her because Mrs. Pontellier is clearly so unhappy and basically so depressed with her life. Maybe she refers to her as sunlight because she is so different, Mrs. Pontelliers motives and wants for her life is so unlike an other woman of the time. It may be something she looks up too.
"Edna and her father had a warm, and almost violent dispute upon the subject of her refusal to attend her sister's wedding. Mr. Pontellier declined to interfere, to interpose either his influence or his authority."
"Edna and her father had a warm, and almost violent dispute upon the subject of her refusal to attend her sister's wedding. Mr. Pontellier declined to interfere, to interpose either his influence or his authority." - page 79
Mrs. Pontellier does not want to go to her sister, Janet's wedding. Obviously her father expects and wants her to attend because clearly, its her sister and expectedly she should be there. Maybe at this point Mr. Pontellier does not interfere because maybe now he know she basically marches to the beat of her own drum and it will not matter what his input is because its her desicion and she plainly does not want to attend.
Mrs. Pontellier does not want to go to her sister, Janet's wedding. Obviously her father expects and wants her to attend because clearly, its her sister and expectedly she should be there. Maybe at this point Mr. Pontellier does not interfere because maybe now he know she basically marches to the beat of her own drum and it will not matter what his input is because its her desicion and she plainly does not want to attend.
"When she saw it lying there, she stamped her heel upon it, striving to crush it. But her boot heel did not make an indenture, not a mark upon the little glittering circlet."
"When she saw it lying there, she stamped her heel upon it, striving to crush it. But her boot heel did not make an indenture, not a mark upon the little glittering circlet." - page 59
Mrs. Pontellier tries to step and crush her wedding ring. She does not love her husband and does not want him any longer. She wants to be an independant woman, she wants a life of her own. Not only does she not love her husband but she really doesn't even love her children, it's as though she does not even know how to love or what love is. She cares for her children I suppose you could say but she does not mother them like a woman should or love them. She basically does not like the life she lives.
Mrs. Pontellier tries to step and crush her wedding ring. She does not love her husband and does not want him any longer. She wants to be an independant woman, she wants a life of her own. Not only does she not love her husband but she really doesn't even love her children, it's as though she does not even know how to love or what love is. She cares for her children I suppose you could say but she does not mother them like a woman should or love them. She basically does not like the life she lives.
"If you felt that you had to leave home this afternoon, you should have left some suitable explanation for your absence."
"If you felt that you had to leave home this afternoon, you should have left some suitable exlanation for your absence." - page 57
Mr. Pontellier says this to Mrs. Pontellier when she leaves for the afternoon. He feels that he must have so much control over her because thats how husbands are and were over their wives at the time. Mrs. Pontellier is definitely not suitable or happy with being controlled over by someone else she wants to be free and live her life the way she wants and not the way its expected to be in their society.
Mr. Pontellier says this to Mrs. Pontellier when she leaves for the afternoon. He feels that he must have so much control over her because thats how husbands are and were over their wives at the time. Mrs. Pontellier is definitely not suitable or happy with being controlled over by someone else she wants to be free and live her life the way she wants and not the way its expected to be in their society.
Hopelessness
August 22, 2010 - pages 100-128
Mrs. Pontellier finds Robert only to for him to reject her. After they spend some time together he tells her goodbye and she knows that their love can never be and that is why he left to go to Mexico. She is devastated by his disappearing again and realizes that she will never be happy in life. Not with Robert nor Arobin nor Mr. Pontellier. Her friend Adele has a rough pregnancy and I believe that the child dies shortly after birth or is still born. In the end she swims out into the ocean and goes too far. She cannot return to shore and it is assumed that she drowns. The sense of hopelessness related to Robert's rejection is something that I think all teenagers go through at some point in their life. Everyone has that one person who they depend on and need to make them feel complete and when that person is no longer their you feel hopeless. When those emotions overcome you can take drastic measures that are sometimes regrettable.
Mrs. Pontellier finds Robert only to for him to reject her. After they spend some time together he tells her goodbye and she knows that their love can never be and that is why he left to go to Mexico. She is devastated by his disappearing again and realizes that she will never be happy in life. Not with Robert nor Arobin nor Mr. Pontellier. Her friend Adele has a rough pregnancy and I believe that the child dies shortly after birth or is still born. In the end she swims out into the ocean and goes too far. She cannot return to shore and it is assumed that she drowns. The sense of hopelessness related to Robert's rejection is something that I think all teenagers go through at some point in their life. Everyone has that one person who they depend on and need to make them feel complete and when that person is no longer their you feel hopeless. When those emotions overcome you can take drastic measures that are sometimes regrettable.
Seperation
August 22, 2010 - pages 80-100
Mrs. Pontellier finds herself alone as her children are taken by her mother in law to Iberville to visit and Mr. Pontellier leaves to go to New York. She goes to the racetrack with Alcee Arobin and her friend. Alcee Arobin begins to take to her and she finds him to be getting attached emotionally and she can still only think about Robert. She goes to see Mademoiselle who is a very good friend of hers and finds that Robert will be coming home soon. She also tells Mademoiselle that she will be moving into her own home. It is a small cottage around the corner from her home she shares with her husband but it will be bought with her own money. Again, in an act of rebellion she wants to make a home of her own with her own money and not her husband's. At this point in the story I feel as though Mrs. Potellier is becoming more withdrawn from everyone. She constantly separates herself and makes decisions for herself that negatively effect the woman she is suppose to be. I think it is really unfair that she is expected to be someone who she is not.
Mrs. Pontellier finds herself alone as her children are taken by her mother in law to Iberville to visit and Mr. Pontellier leaves to go to New York. She goes to the racetrack with Alcee Arobin and her friend. Alcee Arobin begins to take to her and she finds him to be getting attached emotionally and she can still only think about Robert. She goes to see Mademoiselle who is a very good friend of hers and finds that Robert will be coming home soon. She also tells Mademoiselle that she will be moving into her own home. It is a small cottage around the corner from her home she shares with her husband but it will be bought with her own money. Again, in an act of rebellion she wants to make a home of her own with her own money and not her husband's. At this point in the story I feel as though Mrs. Potellier is becoming more withdrawn from everyone. She constantly separates herself and makes decisions for herself that negatively effect the woman she is suppose to be. I think it is really unfair that she is expected to be someone who she is not.
Kate Choplin
http://www.literaryhistory.com/19thC/Chopin.htmCatherine (Kate) O'Flaherty was born on Feburary the 8th, 1950 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the second child of Thomas O'flaherty of Ireland and her mother, Eliza Faris of St. Louis. She grew up speaking french and english because her mother side is french. At a young age she there was a lot of influence of the french cultures and literature. Of the things Kate wrote about in her adult life mostly came from her well nutured young life. She attended the St. Louis Academy of the Sacred Heart for 10 years and then one year at the Academy of Visitation. Growing up she was constantly mentored by her mother, grandmother, great grandmother and the Sacred Heart nuns. With all the mentoring of the women in her life she formed great bonds with her family and she had also made a friend who had been there with Kate throughout her entire life, Kitty Garasche. Kates life was definitely not perfect with all the nurturing and mentoring and her family bonds, she did grow up with the trauma in deaths with the closest people in her life. The year she started attending the St. Louis Academy of the Sacred Heart her father died in 1855 her father died when he was on a train and as the train crossed over a bridge it had collapsed. Then in 1863 her "beloved French-speaking great grandmother died". She spent the civil war where she lived, in St. Louis, where people had supported the Union and and the Confederacy. Her family had also kept slaves in their home. Later, Kate's half brother enlisted in the confederate army and was captured by Union forces and then shortly after died of typhoid fever. For basically three years Kate had kept almost like a diary that she called her "commonplace book". Along with it being kind of like a diary she kept passages of essays, poems, and other writings that she enjoyed. Between the 3 years that she had her "commonplace book" she wrote a sketch called, "Emancipation: A Fable Life". At around the age of nineteen she met Oscar Choplin from Natchitoches Parish, Louisianna. Oscar's "French father had taken" their family to Europe during the Civil War. In 1870 they married. Later on in Kate's life she wrote two books and close to about two hundred short stories in the 1890's. The short stories she had wrote were published by very well know magizines. Some of her stories had also been published in two collections, Bayou Folk, and A Night in Acadie. Most of everything she has writen has recieved good reviews across the country. After her death in 1904 her writings were forgotten but around 1920 her short stories came back in anthologies, and then again people began reading her literature. Then around the 1950's scholar's took notice to how insightful and moving her writings are. All in all, Kate Choplin was and still continues to be a great author throughout her time and ours.
http://www.katechopin.org/biography.shtml
Suspicion
August 22, 2010 - pages 60-80
Mr. Pontellier gotes to see his family doctor, and tells the doctor that he thinks Mrs. Pontellier is acting strange and he wants the doctor to come see for himself. After Mr. Pontellier leaves the doctor thinks to himself that maybe there is another man in her life and that is her reason for acting strangely. When the doctor has dinner with the Pontellier's he sees nothing wrong with her and tells Mr. Pontellier to leave her alone. Mrs. Pontelliers father comes to town and has a good visit until he finds out that Mrs. Pontellier won't be attending her sister, Janet's wedding.
I believe that maybe she suspected the doctor was there for a reason so she covered up all her strange actions and feelings that Mr. Pontellier notices by being a typical wife and woman at the dinner.
Mr. Pontellier gotes to see his family doctor, and tells the doctor that he thinks Mrs. Pontellier is acting strange and he wants the doctor to come see for himself. After Mr. Pontellier leaves the doctor thinks to himself that maybe there is another man in her life and that is her reason for acting strangely. When the doctor has dinner with the Pontellier's he sees nothing wrong with her and tells Mr. Pontellier to leave her alone. Mrs. Pontelliers father comes to town and has a good visit until he finds out that Mrs. Pontellier won't be attending her sister, Janet's wedding.
I believe that maybe she suspected the doctor was there for a reason so she covered up all her strange actions and feelings that Mr. Pontellier notices by being a typical wife and woman at the dinner.
Leaving Lover
August 22, 2010 - Pages 40-60
As the summer comes to an end Robert decides to leave for Mexico a business adventure. Mrs. Pontellier is devastated as well as others at Grand Isle but she is upset for his leaving for other reasons. They cannot understand why he is leaving in such a rush. She is shocked as she she spent all morning with him and he never mentioned him leaving to her. Robert leaves and everyone goes home. Mrs. Pontellier is back at her house in New Orleans and still finds herself thinking about Robert. She seems to be a very depressed person and still very annoyed of her husband. I think that maybe she wouldnt be very depressed if she did what she wanted and let out her feelings. Although it wouldnt be excepted and despised of, she could still live her life how she wanted and wouldnt have to rebel.
As the summer comes to an end Robert decides to leave for Mexico a business adventure. Mrs. Pontellier is devastated as well as others at Grand Isle but she is upset for his leaving for other reasons. They cannot understand why he is leaving in such a rush. She is shocked as she she spent all morning with him and he never mentioned him leaving to her. Robert leaves and everyone goes home. Mrs. Pontellier is back at her house in New Orleans and still finds herself thinking about Robert. She seems to be a very depressed person and still very annoyed of her husband. I think that maybe she wouldnt be very depressed if she did what she wanted and let out her feelings. Although it wouldnt be excepted and despised of, she could still live her life how she wanted and wouldnt have to rebel.
Freedom and Independance
August 22, 2010 - Pages 20-40
Mrs. Pontellier is very defiant of those around her. Her big break is when she finally she finally learns to swim on her own, it is definitely a defining moment for her and her inner freedom. She also seems to long for Robert and is constantly growing more and more annoyed of her husband. For the time the book takes place she is definitely more independant than the normal woman then. She longs to be different and not the average woman who cooks, cleans, and constantly tending to her family. She is very different.
I feel as though she couldnt have been the only woman who didn't want to be the expected woman. It was basically the way they were suppose to be. When she learns to swim it makes her feel free, especially since she did it all on her own. It's like when a teenager gets their license, when I got mine I felt so free and independant. Although her learning to swim was probably more fulfilling than me getting my license because I'm not expected to be anything from others like Mrs.Pontellier is.
Mrs. Pontellier is very defiant of those around her. Her big break is when she finally she finally learns to swim on her own, it is definitely a defining moment for her and her inner freedom. She also seems to long for Robert and is constantly growing more and more annoyed of her husband. For the time the book takes place she is definitely more independant than the normal woman then. She longs to be different and not the average woman who cooks, cleans, and constantly tending to her family. She is very different.
I feel as though she couldnt have been the only woman who didn't want to be the expected woman. It was basically the way they were suppose to be. When she learns to swim it makes her feel free, especially since she did it all on her own. It's like when a teenager gets their license, when I got mine I felt so free and independant. Although her learning to swim was probably more fulfilling than me getting my license because I'm not expected to be anything from others like Mrs.Pontellier is.
Rebeling
August 22, 2010 - Pages 1-20
Throughout the begining of the book you find out that Mrs. Pontellier has a very odd relationship with her husband. He constantly accuses her of not being motherly to her children. Although she knows that about herself she doesn't admit it to anyone. Mrs. Pontellier and he family go on vacation to a grand isle, they are from New Orleans and she works in New Orleans during the week. Robert is a nuisance but she finds herself pushing him away but yet giving into him as well. Mrs. Pontellier accepted her marriage proposal from her husband because her father and sister did not like him. It seems as though she has no real affection for anyone, and she doesn't seem to know true love.
It seems to me that Mrs. Pontellier has a hard time with life and she may have a hard time contemplating what she may like or want, almost like she doesn't want to be the typical woman. It's also natural for someone to want to rebel against what other want or expect from you. She seems to be very independant and kept to herself.
Throughout the begining of the book you find out that Mrs. Pontellier has a very odd relationship with her husband. He constantly accuses her of not being motherly to her children. Although she knows that about herself she doesn't admit it to anyone. Mrs. Pontellier and he family go on vacation to a grand isle, they are from New Orleans and she works in New Orleans during the week. Robert is a nuisance but she finds herself pushing him away but yet giving into him as well. Mrs. Pontellier accepted her marriage proposal from her husband because her father and sister did not like him. It seems as though she has no real affection for anyone, and she doesn't seem to know true love.
It seems to me that Mrs. Pontellier has a hard time with life and she may have a hard time contemplating what she may like or want, almost like she doesn't want to be the typical woman. It's also natural for someone to want to rebel against what other want or expect from you. She seems to be very independant and kept to herself.
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