The Awakening - Essay Example

However, the critics neglect altogether the universality of theme the author maintains while creating such a fabulous work i.e. the Awakening, which is still being imitated by the Marxist and feminist writers all over the globe. The novel depicts the social and domestic life at Grand Isle, South Creole, where the author has described the bitter realities of life along under the thick curtain of apparently vivid and thrilling environment. Though financial stability, liberty to move and presence of friends and companions, and beauties of natural objects including restless waves of vast blue sea, captivating sight of flying birds and bewitching blows of fresh breeze, make the environment bright and animating, yet the emotional collapses and ray of loneliness turn the atmosphere sad and gloomy.

The story of the novel revolves around the protagonist Edna Pontellier, a married woman living with her husband Leonce Pontellier and two young boys. The family has gone on vacationing at Grand Isle near New Orleans. Apparently, the novel looks confined to the southern part of the USA; however, elaboration of people’s psychological and emotional problems and needs, as well as their domestic and corporate activities reveals the universality of the theme expressed and explained by Chopin in the novel.

Since Leonce is a dynamic businessman and spends most of his time in business activities, he hardly manages time for his wife and children. The negligence on the part of her husband adversely tells upon Edna’s delicate nerves. She seeks the love of her husband, though fails to obtain the same because of the fast and speedy life people spend in the contemporary world. Leonce has dropped Edna and children in the Isle and has proceeded to New York on business tour; consequently, Edna finds herself lonely and companionless.

Since her husband’s corporate activities always keep her lonely, she looks for some male friend in order to satisfy her emotional and carnal desires. Edna observes charms, decor, immersion, passion and fascination, and looks for some admirer of her physical charms and feelings. Consequently, she enters into friendship with two females Adele Ratignolle, a mother-woman, and the pianist called Madame Reisz in order to give vent to her ideas about life on the one hand, and for sharing her joys and sorrows with them on the other.

Chopin disparages lack of decision power in Edna’s personality, as well as criticizes her deficiency in perceiving the matters with a speculative approach. The shortcomings existing in her personality forces her seek relief in the company of these two feminine characters from where she obtains assistance and guidance regarding her domestic life as well as quixotic sensations. Edna tries to express her grief in paintings, and revealing of this hidden talent looks as the outcome of her emotional attachment with Robert Lebrun.

Since Edna is still in search of emotional relief, she develops relationship with Robert Lebrun in order to soothe her feelings and sexual desires. She seeks attraction towards Robert because of her loneliness and