The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Themes:
1. Convention and Individuality
2. Freedom and Emptiness
3. Feminism
4. Sexual Awakening
5. Society and Class
6. Repression

Chapter 7:
P: Sexuality and Context
E:the lines of her body were long, clean and symmetrical; it was a body which occasionally fell into
splendid poses; there was no suggestion for the trim, stereotypes fashion-plate about it.
E: No married woman at that time would describe another woman with such sensuality.
I: It makes the audience think that there is more to their relationship then just two women who spend
time together.

P: Society and Class

E: ​She wore gloves with gauntlets that protected her wrists she was dressed in pure white with the
fluffiness of ruffles that became home​.
E: ​These lines explain the context of the text they show the kind of couture that the women wore
during that time, it also represents the naive and innocent nature of the women
I:​These lines so that however bold and sensuous Edna is with her description of Adele, she still has a
sense of modesty to her.

P: Sexuality and Freedom

E: ​She laid her hand over that of Edna’s which was near her. Seeing that the hand was not withdrawn
she clasped it from firmly and warmly she even stroked it a little fondly with the other hand
murmuring in an undertone.
E: The lines above show that Adele is showing affection towards Edna in an unusual way, both of them
share a moment where is subconsciously question their sexuality and are freed from the societal
norms.
I: These lines depict the bold and honest essence of the bond they share and make the readers curious
to read further.
Chapter 10

Chapter 17
CONVENTIONS
● Impressing society;number one priority
● “‘The Misses Delasidas.’ I worked a big deal in futures for their father this morning; nice
girls; it’s time they were getting married
● “This soup is really impossible; it’s strange that woman hasn’t learned yet to make a
decent one.” Leonce is making it very clear that he gets to decide what the cook’s
(FEMALE) role is and he has very high expectations from her, although she is just a
common helper in their house. This makes evident the expectations from women in
society at that point of time.

INDIVIDUALITY AND FREEDOM

● “Why, what could have taken you out on Tuesday?”
“I simply felt like going out, so i went out.”
When Leonce asked Edna what she had been upto, she said she went out. He was
appalled because in accordance to their “les convenances”, she wasn’t supposed to act
according to free will. The amount of shock observed in Leonce’s words shows the
readers the vast difference between the extremities of the expectations for women in
society which makes them sympathetic for Edna’s character.
● In context to Mr. Pontellier leaving in the middle of dinner:
“She was somewhat familiar with such scenes. They had often made her very unhappy.
On a few previous occasions she had been completely deprived of any desire to finish her
dinner.
But that evening Edna finished her dinner alone, with forced deliberation.”
● She was seeking herself and finding herself in just such sweet, half-darkness which met
her moods. But the voices were not soothing that came to her from the darkness and the
sky above and the stars. They jeered and sounded mournful notes without promise,
devoid even of hope.
Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20