The Awakening - Interpreting Literary Criticism

     Patricia S. Yaeger criticism of The Awakening by Kate Chopin degrades the character of Edna and her inability to speak for herself and expel a man's influence from her life. Yaeger emphasizes how Edna "can only act within some permutation of the subject-object relations her society has ordained for her", arguing that because of the time period, Edna will never fully experience a true "awakening" due to her pre-programed dependence on men. To support her claim, within the novel, once Edna does achieve freedom for her husband, she then turned to Alcée Arobin "in a way that pleased her at last, appealing to the animalism that stirred impatiently within her" (Chopin 106). Thus, even though Edna was able to isolate her life from that of her husbands, she still allowed her inner animal, or instincts, to guide her into befriending and romantically involving herself with Arobin. By comparing Edna's need for a man to "animalism", Chopin contradicts her message of feminism and freedom from male domination by suggesting that women are naturally in superior and yearn to have the controlling relationships that men implement. Similarly, Yaeger argues that Edna portrays the ideal that women have a natural incapability to speak on their own behalf as their language is "singular when it should be plural, masculine when it should be feminine, phantasmic when it should be open and dialectical." In addition, after Edna witnesses Adele give birth, "her speech was voicing the incoherency of her thought" (Chopin 151). Together, these assertions prove that Edna emphasizes women's inabilities to thrive without male influence as they lack the basic ability to compartmentalize and enforce structure in their conversations and their lives. Also, Yaeger argues that due to Edna's individual insufficiencies, she portrays a message opposite to that of what Chopin was trying to emphasize as she contradicts the characteristic of a strong, independent woman. In conclusion, Yaeger argues that within The Awakening, Edna's character is an erroneous portrayal of a woman who undergoes the revelation of feminism as her characteristics contradict that to which they try to illustrate.

The Awakening Chapter 31-End Dialectical Journal

"It was with a wrench and a pang that Edna left her children...But by the time she had regained the city the song no longer echoed in her soul. She was again alone" (Chopin128).
     This except highlights a key message that did not become clear until the near end of the novel. As Edna yearns to escape from her husband and her world surrounded by control, she never allows herself to fully escaper as she runs into the arms of more men. But, it becomes apparent that Edna will never be able to escape the control of men due to the fact that even if she breaks free from Leoncé, she will still be tied into a life dominated by her two sons and the care they require.

"I love you. Good-by-- because I love you" (Chopin 152).
     When Robert leaves Edna while she is away, the note he writes for her to find upon her return emphasizes the role that Robert plays in this novel. He is constantly the one person that Edna believes will open her life to endless possibilities and happiness, and yet, even when they declare their love for one another, her still leaves. This shows that true happiness with men and life in general may be unconventional and never truly unattainable.

"She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again" (Chopin 157).
     As Edna commits suicide, she recalls the split second of fear that overcame her but then left as quickly as it came. Fittingly, Edna chooses to leave this world in a poetic way. She swims out into the sea at Grand Isle, naked and perfectly at peace. The spot that Edna chose to commit suicide highlights her last chance at gaining control and freedom within her life as she choses to return to the one spot within the novel where she was free.

The Awakening Chapter 21-30 Dialectical Journal

"I have a quick temper, but I don't want to quarrel or be rude to a woman, especially my wife; yet I'm driven to it... she's making it devilishly uncomfortable for me" (Chopin 88).
       In this except, Mr. Pontellier reflects upon his feelings based on his wives new attitude and lifestyle. This part in the novel is particularly interesting as it highlights the opinions of outside sources rather than just that of Edna's inner feelings. By including this, Chopin emphasizes the views of society and traditionalists at the time while illuminating another perspective to further the importance and rarity of Edna's decision of self change.

"She says a wedding is one of the most lamentable spectacles on earth. Nice thing for a woman to say to her husband" (Chopin 89).
     This humorous quote from Mr. Pontellier drastically portrays the progression of Edna's journey into freedom as well as her awakening. Edna is shown talking to her husband saying that weddings are regrettable, highlighting her character development as she no longer attempts to hide her newfound self and rather emphasizes her views to her husband by indirectly sating that she regrets their own marriage.

"A way that pleased her at last, appealing to the animalism that stirred impatiently within her" (Chopin 106)
      After Edna kisses Arobin, she states that she is at last pleases and finally giving into her deepest desires and wishes of her "animalism" that has been within her all along. At this point in the novel, Edna undergoes a turning point, fully giving into her freedom and kisses another man. This realization is detrimental in Edna's search for liberation as she illustrates her rejection of societal expectations and no longer chooses to conform to beliefs that she does not agree with.

The Awakening Chapter 11-20 Dialectical Journal

"Another time she would have gone in at his request. She would, through habit, have yielded to his desire" (Chopin 41).

       This except emphasize the change occurring within Edna that has begun to alter her opinion and perception of reality. As she begins to view herself in a different light, Edna disobeys her husband and illustrates the shift outwardly, causing Mr. Pontellier to become angry and frustrated at his wife's out of character behavior. This scene characterizes the new relationship that is beginning to form between the Pontellier's as Edna grows more independence and embraces her small chances of freedom. 

"Sailing across the bay...Edna felt as if she were being borne away from some anchorage which had held her fast, whose chains had been loosening-had snapped the night before" (Chopin 46).

       As Edna spend the day with Robert, she comments on how after sailing away from Creole, she felt as though she was relieved of an invisible pressure or "chains" that hindered her ability to enjoy her life and be her own person. After she found this freedom when she stood up to her husband, Edna refuses to feel belittles by society's influences, become more liberated the farther away she becomes from Creole and her family and friends.

"Robert's going had some way take the brightness, the color, the meaning out of everything" (Chopin 61-62).

       Once Robert left Creole on a journey to Mexico, Edna felt lost within her community, describing life without Robert as dull and lacking meaning. This depiction of Creole life without Robert suggests that Edna's connection to Robert was deeper than even she had known, as she portrays herself on dependent on his constant companionship for happiness and joy. Because of this, Edna reveals to the reader that she has begun to recognize her feelings for Robert, but lacks the ability to act on them now that he has felt.

The Awakening Chapter 1-10 Dialectical Journals

"Looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of property which has suffered some damage" (Chopin 3).
       In the beginning of the novel, this except characterizes the strained relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier. Catering to the beliefs of the time, Mr. Pontellier views his wife as an object to which he has control over. HE also comments on how his wife is no longer the picture of perfection having "suffered some damage",  belittling her worth and status in society. Similarly, this excerpt parallels the worship that Mrs. Pontellier receives from her husband, making their relationship appear incomplete compared to others in the society.

"An indescribable oppression...filled her whole being with anguish" (Chopin 8).
       Edna Pontellier describes how she feels as though her current life is hindering her true potential due to her many responsibilities and people to care for. This feeling adds to her discontent with her personal relationship with her husband, adding to her overall characterization as an oppressed woman being kept from her true purpose in life. This statement is controversial as it contradicts the beliefs and lifestyles that women were accustomed to in the society at this time.

"They were women who idealized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings... many of them were delicious in the role" (Chopin 10).
       This except adds to the characterization of Mrs. Pontellier as she describes other women that she has encountered within the society. She comments on how these women, much different from her, live for the sole purpose of making a happy family and catering to their husbands. She then states that the women were playing the "role" beautifully, creating a sense that the women were faking this devotion and disregarding their oppression within the culture in order to fulfill the stereotypes of women's personalities during the time.

"Happy Endings" Structure and Style Aspects

"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin

     In the story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas", Ursula Le Guin describes the inner workings surface-level ideal society through her use of situational irony, the serene setting and society members to shed light on her message that questioning and personal beliefs is the fundamental basis to society. 

     After describing the jovial festival occuring within Omelas, Le Guin then illuminates the brutish, more savage part of the society. Under the city, a child is kept in a room with no windows or light, where occasionally "the food and water jug are hastily filled, the door is locked, the eyes disappear"(5). The child is kept captive and treated like an animal to exemplify the beauty of Omelas to the people and to act as a reminder for the basis of their happy lives. This situational irony proves Le Guin's purpose due to how rather than standing up for the injustices that are performed to the child, the citizens become numb to the pain and accept the child's suffering as a part of their culture. Similarly, Omelas is set in an obsolete location, on the ocean and surrounded by a wall of protecting mountains. This assists in portraying the message of the author because although the location is more than ideal, it cannot prevent the atrocities that occur in every society unless the people rise up to make a change. Lastly, Le Guin contrasts the bystanders in society to the ones who after seeing the child, "keep walking, and walk straight out of Omelas...they walk ahead into the darkness, and they do not come back" (7).  This contradiction is representative of how society, when not questioned, will become inhuman and naive. The author emphasizes the necessity to "walk ahead" in order to progress society.