The Awakening, a novel by Kate Chopin, tells the story of Edna Pontellier who is the protagonist of the novel. The novel portrays the Creole culture of Louisiana. The first half of the book is set in Grand Isle, an island off the coast of Louisiana. The upper class Creoles retreats to the island during the summer months to relax and get away from the city. This is where Edna meets one of the most influential characters in the book; Robert, a single man, with who she falls deeply in love. Through her journey in getting to know Robert, she feels as though she needs more independence in her life. She is no longer satisfied with being a housewife and a mother.
One of the main themes in this book is Edna’s quest for liberation. Throughout the book she strives to be her own person. She realizes she wants more. Consequently, she begins to break away from the mold she should be following. Victorian women were expected to care for their children and husband, and were prevented from seeking their own wants and desires. But, as Edna gradually awakens, she takes steps to change her lifestyle. She disobeys her loyalty to her husband through having an affair. She sends her children away, which insinuates she did not want to be a mother figure anymore. Edna also buys a new house, just for herself. She felt her own home was not hers, and that she wanted something that would feel like home and be her own.
Ultimately, Edna sets herself completely free by swimming in the water until she becomes too tired to swim any longer. Whether it was a suicide or merely just an accident, Edna liberates herself completely from all the feelings of loneliness, solitude, and unrequited love.
