Breaking The Social Construct In Kate Chopin's The Awakening
Breaking the social construct would prove catastrophic to Kate Chopin. Upon the release of The Awakening, the St. Louis Globe Democrat, rightly so, noticed the unmoral actions of Edna Pontellier. Stating “It is not a healthy book” (“The St. Louis”). Literary dwellers fought alongside critics to remove the rubbish from libraries. The author seemingly used a taboo subject with no transparent reason. Indeed, this transgression stemmed from the insufficiency of the moral. No moral presented itself. Only a declaration of war lay wake. Mrs. Edna Pontellier was a happily married wife, married to Leonce Pontellier. Throughout the novel, she strives to fill the void in her heart: pursuing a relationship Robert Lebrun, Alcee Robin, and dabbling in fine
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A third of Chopin’s overall library comprised solely of children’s story’s. These short stories contained positive moral lessons; without children stories, Chopin would have never risen as a local role model. So why would she betray her fans? A local news journal stated, “It is hardly the kind of a book some people would look for from her” (“The St. Louis”). When the novel released, many fans were shocked. In addition, readers expected her latest novel to persecute Edna’s foul deeds, yet they found no punishment. Leaving readers with a character that threatened the cultural beliefs of the time, and believed Chopin fully supported her actions. Often, readers make the mistake of associating a speaker’s action or goals to that of the author; Speakers/protagonists function more in the realm of fictional hypothetical characters. Further cementing the notion, a lack of punishment by the author toward Edna does not inherently confirm an author’s bias. Removing characters from the juxtaposition with Chopin allows the readers to interpret a story for its characters and the world they inhabit. Chopin’s stories are fiction. She entertains the idea of woman finding her way out of the cage that she inherited. Many of the characters, whom chiefly paralleled confused fans, also struggled to comprehend such a character as Edna Pontellier. A prime example can be seen in the interactions between the minor characters. Dialog between the physician and Mr. Pontellier, both males, believe that Edna is an enigma, stating “She’s odd” (Chopin 87). The exchange emphasizes the gradual changes in her character, as well as reflected the unprogressive ideologies that dominated the landscape around the time of the novel’s release. The oppressed protagonist struggles through the expanse of the novel; she endures with emotional lapses throughout the novel. She swings between a state of love and indifference
A third of Chopin’s overall library comprised solely of children’s story’s. These short stories contained positive moral lessons; without children stories, Chopin would have never risen as a local role model. So why would she betray her fans? A local news journal stated, “It is hardly the kind of a book some people would look for from her” (“The St. Louis”). When the novel released, many fans were shocked. In addition, readers expected her latest novel to persecute Edna’s foul deeds, yet they found no punishment. Leaving readers with a character that threatened the cultural beliefs of the time, and believed Chopin fully supported her actions. Often, readers make the mistake of associating a speaker’s action or goals to that of the author; Speakers/protagonists function more in the realm of fictional hypothetical characters. Further cementing the notion, a lack of punishment by the author toward Edna does not inherently confirm an author’s bias. Removing characters from the juxtaposition with Chopin allows the readers to interpret a story for its characters and the world they inhabit. Chopin’s stories are fiction. She entertains the idea of woman finding her way out of the cage that she inherited. Many of the characters, whom chiefly paralleled confused fans, also struggled to comprehend such a character as Edna Pontellier. A prime example can be seen in the interactions between the minor characters. Dialog between the physician and Mr. Pontellier, both males, believe that Edna is an enigma, stating “She’s odd” (Chopin 87). The exchange emphasizes the gradual changes in her character, as well as reflected the unprogressive ideologies that dominated the landscape around the time of the novel’s release. The oppressed protagonist struggles through the expanse of the novel; she endures with emotional lapses throughout the novel. She swings between a state of love and indifference