The Awakening
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Review
'Kate Chopin is a pioneer in the treatment of sexuality in American literature, discussing realistically, metaphorically and symbolically woman's desire to become a person in her own right, and the vexed question of the relationship between sex and love' The Sunday Times
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
Kate Chopin's daring portrait of a woman seeking for a life beyond her role as devoted wife and mother
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A century after the publication of Kate Chopin's novel, its themes -- a woman's awakening to the full potential of her sexual passion and her sense of being smothered by marriage and motherhood -- have become the staple ingredients of 'chick lit'. It is thus easy to overlook how revolutionary and shocking the events and ideas of this story must have seemed at the time. Then, the book was banned from public libraries in America; now, it is required reading in schools.
In many ways, both in theme and treatment, it resembles "Madame Bovary". Although Chopin lacks Flaubert's scope and breadth of vision, she reaches deeper into the soul of her heroine. Her style is restrained and elegant and some modern readers, accustomed to a pacier and more explicit treatment, may grow impatient at times. But there is beautiful writing here, embodying rich characterizations, strong evocations of time and place and thought-provoking moral ambiguity. An undoubted masterpiece.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A broad-brush, sociological analysis of the book reveals that it's a story that features an `individual-versus-society' theme, raising the usual thought-provoking questions: Can individuals flaunt with impunity the unwritten laws of society? Can they break out of the mold in which society has cast them? Or do they, for all their valiant efforts, end up affirming the truth of the Japanese proverb: `The nail that sticks out will be hammered down'?
Here, you have Edna Pontellier, a married Creole woman of the late 19th century who, by a confluence of circumstances, realizes that she's been straitjacketed by conventions all her life and thereafter resolves - without much thought of the consequences - to free herself from the chokehold of a bland existence and give full form and substance to her intellectual, artistic, emotional, and sexual proclivities. She thus takes a series of bold, reckless steps in this direction, and not even the sweet joys of parenthood or the discreet interventions of friends like Adele Ratignolle and Dr. Mandelet can hold her back. Indeed, she finds herself incurably captivated by the prospect of attaining full independence (and by implication, gaining unqualified affirmation of her individuality); she's drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Not surprisingly, however, her precipitate transformation heightens her sense of isolation even as it gives her a sense of empowerment. The more she becomes more of herself, the more her sense of attachment to others unravels. Unfortunately for her, the trade-off between independence and isolation takes on the character of a Faustian bargain, and consequently, her situation becomes increasingly unbearable. Things come to a head when Robert Lebrun, for whom she has felt the stirrings of passion, eventually, reluctantly, reveals his affection for her but proves unable - or unwilling? - to act on it. Unlike her, he is still pretty much a product of the society in which he has been bred. He can't - or won't? - bring himself to defy communal expectations by having an illicit affair with her no matter how much he loves her, no matter how much she wants it. And this turn of events proves to be the proverbial last straw, predisposing her to kill herself.
In view of the ending, how then should one interpret the story? Is this a resounding triumph of society over a defiant individual? Or is this a tragic yet heroic struggle of a defiant individual? It's all a matter of perspective, I reckon. Those who regard Edna Pontellier's transformation as a mutation will say it's about the dire, social consequence of individual maladjustment, of an individual's misguided desire to defy social conventions in pursuit of self-reinvention. On the other hand, those who regard it as a metamorphosis (yours truly included) will say it's about the provocative assertion of individuality in the face of overwhelming social constraints; it's about an individual who has tired of playing by the stipulated rules of the game, as it were, and dares to quit for good - and does so to good effect.
Here, you have Edna Pontellier, a married Creole woman of the late 19th century who, by a confluence of circumstances, realizes that she's been straitjacketed by conventions all her life and thereafter resolves - without much thought of the consequences - to free herself from the chokehold of a bland existence and give full form and substance to her intellectual, artistic, emotional, and sexual proclivities. She thus takes a series of bold, reckless steps in this direction, and not even the sweet joys of parenthood or the discreet interventions of friends like Adele Ratignolle and Dr. Mandelet can hold her back. Indeed, she finds herself incurably captivated by the prospect of attaining full independence (and by implication, gaining unqualified affirmation of her individuality); she's drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Not surprisingly, however, her precipitate transformation heightens her sense of isolation even as it gives her a sense of empowerment. The more she becomes more of herself, the more her sense of attachment to others unravels. Unfortunately for her, the trade-off between independence and isolation takes on the character of a Faustian bargain, and consequently, her situation becomes increasingly unbearable. Things come to a head when Robert Lebrun, for whom she has felt the stirrings of passion, eventually, reluctantly, reveals his affection for her but proves unable - or unwilling? - to act on it. Unlike her, he is still pretty much a product of the society in which he has been bred. He can't - or won't? - bring himself to defy communal expectations by having an illicit affair with her no matter how much he loves her, no matter how much she wants it. And this turn of events proves to be the proverbial last straw, predisposing her to kill herself.
In view of the ending, how then should one interpret the story? Is this a resounding triumph of society over a defiant individual? Or is this a tragic yet heroic struggle of a defiant individual? It's all a matter of perspective, I reckon. Those who regard Edna Pontellier's transformation as a mutation will say it's about the dire, social consequence of individual maladjustment, of an individual's misguided desire to defy social conventions in pursuit of self-reinvention. On the other hand, those who regard it as a metamorphosis (yours truly included) will say it's about the provocative assertion of individuality in the face of overwhelming social constraints; it's about an individual who has tired of playing by the stipulated rules of the game, as it were, and dares to quit for good - and does so to good effect.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The reader comments on this book illustrate a truth. Great literature rarely inspires a tepid response. This carefully drawn portrait of a young wife's awakening deserves comparison with Madame Bovary, but that, as well, was a sensational text, condemned by the readers of the day as inflammatory, condemned by modern readers as dull. The Awakening is an inspired and inspiring work. This book is full of symbolism and passion, and though the story is an eventually bleak one, it resonates with truth. This is a book about the pain of coming to life, and the power of inescapable maternal entanglement. Read it if you have an ear for beautiful language, a wise soul, and an active brain. If you prefer your truths to be merely pleasant, your endings to be tdily happy, and your grey matter to remain inert, leave The Awakening on the shelf.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Important but I could not get on with the style of writing
This reminded me very much of Madame Bovery as they are both women who are trapped in their marriage by the constraints of their social world and time period. Read more
Published 6 months ago by J. Willis
Loved it,
*May contain spoilers - nothing major however*
The Awakening by Kate Chopin is a novel I read last week and absolutely loved. Read more
The Awakening by Kate Chopin is a novel I read last week and absolutely loved. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Sara Jafari
Just loved it!
Action packed and fast paced it may not be, but just sit back and enjoy the writing, the atmosphere and the settings. What is it to be a wife and a mother, but never yourself? Read more
Published 17 months ago by i
The Awakening
I am very happy with this company because I understand that sometimes books in a bad condition goes though the net, without the company knowing it. So I e. Read more
Published 19 months ago by britishman
I was Comatose!
A tepid tale of a married woman's dissatisfaction with her life. Frankly I was relieved when she finally waded out to sea and I could get on with reading something more engaging... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Silvanus
Over-rated and irritating but interesting
I read this a few months ago for a book group. I was hopeful that I would enjoy "The Awakening", but did not (though it provoked one of the most interesting discussions the group... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2009 by Alun Williams
Awakened
The lot of women in the 19th century wasn't a terribly impressive one -- many of them had been reduced to babymakers and inoffensive "property" for the men. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2008 by E. A Solinas
Not for shallow minds
How could any woman not like this book? I am FAR from being a feminist, but- WOW! Ms. Chopin was ahead of her time in describing the oppression of women and how they were... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 1998
My Favorite Book Ever!
This is my absolute favorite novel. I read it for the first time in high school, and have reread it several times since my initial engagement with Edna and her strength to decide... Read more
Published on 13 May 1998
A Guidebook To Giving Up
My one and only problem with The Awakening is Edna's suicide. It seemed as though she had everything in her reach, and instead of staying strong, she "wussed out. Read more
Published on 11 May 1998
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