Ednas Suicide in Kate Chopins The Awakening Essay

Ednas Suicide in Kate Chopins The Awakening At the end of Kate Chopins novel „The Awakening the protagonist Edna commits suicide. The remaining question for the reader is: Does Ednas suicide show that she succeeded or failed in her struggle for independence? Ednas new life in independency seems to be going well especially after Robert had returned from Mexico. The lover, who she met during her vacation at Grand Isle, told her that he loves her and he wants to marry her. But her mood changes when her friend Adà ©le tells her that she should care more about her family as she does not spend enough time with her family because of her affairs. Robert leaves Edna behind because Edna does not give a clear answer to his marriage†¦show more content†¦She does not want to keep herself hidden from the outside world, unable to transcend the social barriers. However, Adà ©le Ratignolle represents the typical mother woman in the novel, who has accepted and embodied this socially constructed role. She does her duties without questioning her existence and she lets herself be locked in a cage. Edna realizes that she does not want a life deprived of independence and freedom. She does not want to be locked up in a cage and that her wings are not clipped yet and she still has got a chance to break through to barriers. Considering this, it is very unlikely that Edna would have married Robert: She would have wanted to live with him in an awakened life where she can be free and independent. For Edna it is impossible to be his wife only to cover up Robertss weakness. It was because of Roberts cowardice that he ran off to Mexico. This point is getting confirmed with the marriage proposal. The marriage proposal shows the reader that Robert is a coward and that he has lacks of strength to fight against social prejudices and barriers. He is afraid of the consequences he would have to face given him by the society. He tries to escape with the proposal. Edna is a very independent woman and she has the strength to oppose a man. She is more emancipated than Robert and she has actually entered another world. A different option would have been that Edna decides to live the life of an artist. She couldShow MoreRelatedThe Awakening: An Emergence of Womens RIghts in the Late Nineteenth Century1330 Words   |  6 PagesThe Awakening: An Emergence of Women’s Rights in the Late Nineteenth Century Kate Chopin’s The Awakening addresses the role of women within society during the late nineteenth century. The novel is set in South Louisiana, a place where tradition and culture also play a vital role in societal expectations. The novel’s protagonist, Edna Pontellier, initially fulfills her position in society as a wife and as a mother while suppressing her urges to live a life of passion and freedom. Edna’s relationshipRead More The Transformation of Edna Pontellier in The Awakening Essay950 Words   |  4 Pagesdid not know what† (Chopin). 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