Resumo de The Awakening

In
Edna Pontellier, Kate
Chopin has created a unique individual with a richer, more complex
internal
world than any other character that has previously been written in
American literature. Chopin takes a keen interest in examining the
chaos that exists internally. Through Edna, she asserts that although
it is acceptable for an individual to rebel against the conventions of
society internally, when this rebellion manifests itself in an external
fashion, the only available option left for that individual is death.

Edna experiences a series of awakenings
through the progression of the novel, but her true awakening is during the time of her death; ?she felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world that it had
never known? (610). She walks into the deeper undercurrents of life as she
walks into the water, and is enveloped in feelings so deep within her that it
cannot be named or comprehended, and separates her from the reader. Throughout
the novel, Chopin stresses that desire and impulses should not be controlled by
reason, which is simply another way for society to constrain and tie down a
woman spirit. Love is but another ?convenance? (559) that a member of society
has to ?observe?if ever expect to get on and keep up with the procession.?
It is only this physical act of observing the rules that matters; Mr.
Pontellier does not truly care where Edna went or did on that Tuesday when she
went out, only that she ?left some suitable excuse? for doing so. In fact, he
only notices that something is amiss because she was not wearing her ?usual
Tuesday reception gown,? (559) a purely external feature. This is exactly the
same for Madame Ratignolle, who only begins to warn Edna ?to be a little
careful while?living alone? when she realizes that ?some one was talking of
Arobin visiting ? (595). Once again, it is this open act of indiscretion
and non-compliance of society?s conventions that causes Mme Ratignolle?s
concern. She repeatedly stresses to Edna to ?think of the children? (606), and
literally becomes the voice of society trying to harness Edna?s freedom with
responsibilities.

Regardless
of how Mme Ratignolle acts, we are still unaware of her true inner feelings. The
method of narration that Chopin chooses limits us to Edna?s inward life. There
are times when there is much sensuality between the two women, and the language
that describes their relationship very physical. When they are at the beach,
Mme Ratignolle ?leaned forward?to bring her face quite close to her companion?
and ?laid her hand over that of Mrs. Pontellier?even strok it a little?
(532). All these could very well be indications of suppressed inner emotions
that are not allowed to surface any further. Since Mme Ratignolle is very wary
of ?act without a certain amount of reflection which is necessary in this
life? (595), she would never have allowed this to occur. Once again, the
separation between rebelling against society?s conventions internally and
externally is made apparent. Simply due to her outward actions, Mme Ratignolle
is held as the exemplary wife and mother in society?s eye. Although at ?a very early period had
apprehended instinctively the dual life ?that outward existence which conforms,
the inward life which questions? (529), her position in society is not until shaken
until she starts to outwardly act on her impulses and refused to ?submit? to
the commands of her husband (544).

Much like Winterbourne, Robert simply cannot
relinquish social conventions externally, although he has certainly violated
them internally by falling in love with ?Leonce Pontellier?s wife? (604). Even
at the precise moment when he was finally voices his affections for her, he was
still incapable of thinking of her as an individual separate from the holds of
society. Edna, on the other hand, can not even comprehend his reassoning. She
asks?why have you been fighting against it?? (604) without realizing that all
along, he had only had ?a whild ream of some way becoming wife?
(604). The only way for him to express the unexplainable, wild emotion he feels
for her is to incorporate it in such a way that would be in line with what
society deems acceptable for two people who are madly in love with one another.
Robert does not die in the end; he leaves Edna, but continues to live in the
society which he holds in such high regard, and which embraces him in return,
oblivious of his internal turmoil.

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