The Awakening, originally titled A Solitary Soul, is a novel by Kate Chopin. Set in New Orleans and on the Louisiana Gulf coast at the end of the 19th century, the plot centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle to reconcile her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century American South. It is one of the earliest American novels that focuses on women's issues without condescension. It is also widely seen as a landmark work of early feminism, ...
Read More
The Awakening, originally titled A Solitary Soul, is a novel by Kate Chopin. Set in New Orleans and on the Louisiana Gulf coast at the end of the 19th century, the plot centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle to reconcile her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century American South. It is one of the earliest American novels that focuses on women's issues without condescension. It is also widely seen as a landmark work of early feminism, generating a mixed reaction from contemporary readers and critics. The novel's blend of realistic narrative, incisive social commentary, and psychological complexity makes The Awakening a precursor of American modernist literature; it prefigures the works of American novelists such as William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway and echoes the works of contemporaries such as Edith Wharton and Henry James. It can also be considered among the first Southern works in a tradition that would culminate with the modern masterpieces of Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Eudora Welty, Katherine Anne Porter, and Tennessee Williams. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Mr. Pontellier finally lit a cigar and began to smoke, letting the paper drag idly from his hand. He fixed his gaze upon a white sunshade that was advancing at snail's pace from the beach. He could see it plainly between the gaunt trunks of the water-oaks and across the stretch of yellow camomile. The gulf looked far away, melting hazily into the blue of the horizon. The sunshade continued to approach slowly. Beneath its pink-lined shelter were his wife, Mrs. Pontellier, and young Robert Lebrun. When they reached the cottage, the two seated themselves with some appearance of fatigue upon the upper step of the porch, facing each other, each leaning against a supporting post. "What folly! to bathe at such an hour in such heat!" exclaimed Mr. Pontellier. He himself had taken a plunge at daylight. That was why the morning seemed long to him. "You are burnt beyond recognition," he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage. She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands, and surveyed them critically, drawing up her fawn sleeves above the wrists. Looking at them reminded her of her rings, which she had given to her husband before leaving for the beach. She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm. She slipped them upon her fingers; then clasping her knees, she looked across at Robert and began to laugh. The rings sparkled upon her fingers. He sent back an answering smile.
Read Less
Add this copy of The awakening to cart. $11.11, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2015 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of The Awakening to cart. $32.10, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Clarita, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
Add this copy of The Awakening to cart. $55.78, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Clarita, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
I was mad throughout most of this book. The way women are treated is just awful. I know that this is for some but not for me.
J
May 26, 2020
A LOCKDOWN MUST
Though much has changed, this novel allows its reader to recall the journey of the feminist, the difficulties, gains and losses faced when ingrained oppression through secular or otherwise religion blurs individualism. I read this book twice for clarity and can foresee revisiting it whenever uncertainty ensues.
Rebecca S
Jan 29, 2012
Women must read this
If you're a wife, mother, or just a woman who loves the sea, you must read this. It's a crime that it didn't get enough recognition at the time, read it now to do Kate Chopin some justice.
bohuslava h
Oct 12, 2010
Masterpiece
The novel AWAKENING is a masterpiece by Kate Chopin. She mastered the art of literary writing and criticizing the society in a harmonic way. This unconventional novel was supposed to open the eyes of patriarchal society but was rejected and caused an end to Chopin's career. Edna's awakening is overwhelming, once we realize the social and cultural background of the story. Edna does not conform to expectations from the society and fails to be a normative woman- wife and woman-mother. She starts to realize her own individuality and independence, however, the society in which she lives is not ready to accept such deviation yet.
SLOVAKIA
TeriK
Jan 12, 2010
Feminist -- Really?
I have always heard Chopin praised as a writer, and The Awakening touted as one of the first truly feminist works. Her writing style is unique. It's spare and detached. I neither liked or disliked the characters, and I believe Chopin meant us to read her book that way. It was a strange experience considering the plot. Her description are beautiful, her word choice excellent. How else could we feel we so understand her characters, while not feeling anything FOR them?
That's not completely true, though. I did become fond of Robert, and definitely came to dislike the main character, Edna. Totally self-absorbed, showing herself to be without any self discipline or control, Edna's 'awakening' took place with no concern for others. She freely admitted that she only cared for herself. That's one reason I can't think of this as a book on feminism, unless you use that term to mean women doing whatever they feel like at any given moment, however much they may damage others.
Don't let that make you think I felt The Awakening was a waste of time. The style alone makes it worth reading for those who don't only care only about plot. The simplicity of the relatively short book is an interesting contrast will all that goes on inside. Just don't go into it thinking you're opening a typical novel, and perhaps you won't be disappointed.
