The AwakeningDIVDIVKate Chopin’s groundbreaking novel of early feminism set against the evocative backdrop of turn-of-the-century New Orleans/div Edna Pontellier is trapped. By her marriage, by her responsibilities to two young sons, by the expectations of Creole society. When she falls in love with the charming and flirtatious Robert Lebrun during a summer on the Louisiana coast, Edna awakens to a new sense of herself, and to the possibility of true independence. Mademoiselle Reisz, a locally renowned musician, offers one example of the self-sufficient, artistic existence Edna might lead. An affair with the notorious womanizer Alcée Arobin warns of the passion and danger inherent in living outside the boundaries of convention. Torn between the life that was handed to her and the one she wants to live, Edna makes a shocking decision.DIV Overwhelmingly criticized in its day for its frank depictions of female sexuality, marriage, and a woman’s desire for independence, The Awakening is now celebrated as one of the earliest—and most revolutionary—feminist novels in American literature./divDIV/div/div |
Contents
XI | |
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XIII | |
XIV | |
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XVI | |
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XVIII | |
XIX | |
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XXI | |
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XXXIII | |
XXXIV | |
XXXV | |
XXXVI | |
XXXVII | |
XXXVIII | |
XXXIX | |
BEYOND THE BAYOU | |
MAAME PELAGIE I II | |
III | |
IV | |
DESIREES BABY | |
A RESPECTABLE WOMAN | |
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Common terms and phrases
afternoon Alcee Arobin Armand arms asked Edna Baroda bayou beach Beaudelet began beside Brantain chair cheeks Cheniere Caminada Cheri cigar clatter coffee desire dinner Doctor door dream Edna's exclaimed eyes face father feel felt fingers Folle girl gone good-by Gouvernail Grand Isle grew hair hand head heard Highcamp husband Iberville kissed knew La Folle lady laughed Leonce letter looked Ma’ame Pelagie Madame Lebrun Madame Ratignolle Mademoiselle Reisz Mariequita Mexico Monsieur Ratignolle morning mother never night Old Monsieur Farival Orleans Pauline peignoir piano pirogue play Pontellier Pontellier's quadroon Robert seated seemed Sesoeur shadow shoulder si tu savais sleep soft soul stay stood summer talked tell things thought tisane told took turned Valmet Valmonde Vera Cruz Victor voice wait walked wife window woman women wonder young