The Importance of Setting in The Awakening Essay - 2206 Words

The Importance of Setting in The Awakening Setting is a key element in Chopins novel, The Awakening To the novels main character, Edna Pontellier, house is not home. Edna was not herself when enclosed behind the walls of the Pontellier mansion. Instead, she was another person entirely-- someone she would like to forget. Similarly, Edna takes on a different identity in her vacation setting in Grand Isle, in her independent home in New Orleans, and in just about every other environment that she inhabits. In fact, Edna seems to drift from setting to setting in the novel, never really finding her true self - until the end of the novel. Chopin seems highly concerned with this question throughout her†¦show more content†¦The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace (Ch. 6, p. 13). As Chopin writes, the sea is the place where Edna can truly look within herself in order to find out what lies beneath her socially constructed faà §ade. Whether she ever does find her true self is another question. It is difficult to define Ednas self because it never seems to emerge at any point in the novel. Chopin presents us with Ednas identity problems early on: Mrs. Pontellier was not a woman given to confidences, a characteristic hitherto contrary to her nature. Even as a child, she had lived her own small life all within herself. At a very early period she had apprehended instinctively the dual life-that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions (Ch. 7, p. 13). The novels abrupt and tragic ending (coincidentally on Grand Isle) puts an immediate halt to Ednas pursuit to answer those very questions. She does begin to slowly uncover small snippets of her lifes true value in different settings throughout the novel and therefore begins to stake a claim for an identity. For example, it is on Grand Isle that Edna learns to swim-- a moment of complete liberation and discovery of her self, or at least a some facet of identity: But that night she was like the little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who all of a suddenShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of Setting and Symbols in The Awakening by Kate Chopin1014 Words   |  5 Pagesparrots to the meadow in Kentucky, symbols and settings in The Awakening are prominent and provide a deeper meaning than the text does alone. Throughout The Awakening by Kate Chopin, symbols and setting recur representing Edna’s current progress in her awakening. The reader can interpret these and see a timeline of Edna’s changes and turmoil as she undergoes her changes and awakening. The setting Edna is in directly affects her temperament and awakening: Grand Isle provides her with a sense of freedom;Read MoreThe Awakening : Evaluating The Core Values Of The Nineteenth Century1203 Words   |  5 PagesThe Awakening: Evaluating The Core Values of the Nineteenth Century In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, the main protagonist Edna Pontellier exists as the embodiment of the feminist ideas that stand as outliers in the midst of the more traditional nineteenth century beliefs. Set in 1899 near the end of this generation, Chopin’s work explores the shared attitudes of most of the novel’s cast as they respond to Edna’s search for independence and freedom, an action that challenges her conservativeRead MoreJonathan Edwards And The Great Awakening1080 Words   |  5 Pagesand Jonathan Edwards sparked a religious shift and revitalisation known as the Great Awakening. Edwards, influenced by enlightenment thinkers Berkeley and Locke, pioneered ideas and practices that would reshape the protestant church and American society. Jonathan Edwards transformed the religious and ideological landscape of the American public because of his large scale influence and role in the Great Awakening. Jonathan Edwards had a large scale influence on American society because of his personalRead MoreSong of Solomon by Tony Morrison1810 Words   |  7 Pagesturn realizes that flight represents liberation from a life of restrictions, set in an era of racism and separation. Flight may seem as a positive solution to such a life of problems and discrimination, however, holds very negative aspects in family settings. Abandoning your own and severing those mutual bonds plays a significant role in the life of the loved ones left behind. Most are left recovering from their loss, or completely lose hope such as Hagar. Solomon leaving his wife Ryna and children behindRead MoreMajor Works Data Sheet: the Awakening by Kate Chopin1444 Words   |  6 PagesIB English HL Major Works Data Sheet: The Awakening | | |Author: Kate Chopin Year of publication: 1899 | | | | Read MoreSinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards1780 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God† was written by theologian Jonathan Edwards and is considered to be one of the most famous of all sermons because it is a common topic of debate for many people (who are in a religious setting). But, I am compelled to consider that there could be more to Edwards’ legacy and purpose than meets the eye. Jonathan Edwards was the son of a minister and a highly intelligent, willful mother (Griffin, 2007). Edwards was known for being an intellectual and profoundRead MoreJonathan Edwards Stressed Emotion To Much As Proof Of Phebes Conversion Essay1164 Words   |  5 PagesGod wanted, or to teach her. Children can relate to this and start their Christian walk off right. Overall by using feeling in his book he was able to relate to everybody and making it understandable to them, even for fellow Christians, or the ones setting on the fence. Christians might find Phebe s emotional conversion more understandable. Also giving the time period feeling and emotion was beginning to be what people were turning to. The second reason that Jonathan Edwards did not stress to muchRead MorePersonal Statement Of The Problem1144 Words   |  5 PagesStatement of the Problem Introduction Imagine for a moment, awakening everyday and being told by everyone around you, that you were born to fail- that you are nothing and that no matter what you do or what you say, you will mess up. How may believing that you can not succeed at anything impact your daily performance? Now in contrast, imagine awakening daily and being told by everyone around you that you were born to thrive and to succeed- that you were born for an amazing purpose, and that you canRead More Importance of Water in The Awakening Essay1475 Words   |  6 PagesImportance of Water in The Awakening      Ã‚  Ã‚   Kate Chopins The Awakening begins set in Grande Isle which is the summer get-away for a few families of New Orleans upper-class. It is a community of cottages owned by the Lebrun family. Edna Pontellier and her husband Leonce summer there with there two children. This is the setting where Edna also develops a close relationship with Robert Lebrun. He is one of Madame Lebruns sons who helps her run the cottages for the Pontelliers and theRead MoreThe Gothic Theme of Edgar Allen Poes Work1357 Words   |  6 Pagesthrough the catalyst of disassociation and subversion of presence. Gothic literature utilises themes of the supernatural to create a brooding setting and an atmosphere of fear. The Gothic dimensions of Poe’s fictional world offered him a way to explore the human mind in extreme situations, and so arriving at an essential truth. The Gothic theme of the importance of the intuitive and emotional and the rejection of the rational and intellectual is prevalent throughout The Raven, The Black Cat, and The