The Awakening by Kate Chopin was a short story set in 1899 New Orleans, and the main character Edna Pontellier was a controversial figure. Edna was searching for her purpose and seeking an “awakening”. She is unable to fulfill her job as a "wife-mother", which has upset women who meet these criteria of her inability to perform her job as a wife and mother, but have instead explored her desires to 19th century woman. One of her most shameful acts was the disavowal of her activity as a mother and wife. Kate Chopin shows this “animation” throughout the novel, highlighting the theme of “mother-woman” roles as a notable subject throughout the short story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay To begin, a major theme of this short story concerns 19th century standards for women. The severity of these social norms provoked Edna's revolt. Women of this era were expected to be the ideal wife and a loving mother. They were obliged to always obey their husbands and listen to the demands of society. This was particularly the case for wealthy family households. Etiquette contributed greatly to the social conventions of the time. In the 19th century, the social rules imposed on women were restrictive because of the limited freedom and choice they offered. Etiquette was vital to a wealthy member of society, serving as an instrument to measure class. In an attempt to maintain the economic well-being of her family, Edna continues the customary ways of the time. Because of her wealthy marriage, Edna Pontellier was integrated into the wealthy society of New Orleans. Throughout the novella, Edna struggles to find satisfaction in her life. She is not fully committed to her partner and children, but instead ends up losing herself in her feminine work as she continually fails as a housewife and mother to her children. Recognizing that she is failing as a “mother-lady” and that in her union with Léonce she can never be an “avant-garde lady,” Edna discovers that she only has one left. decision: to free himself from her. man-centered work and departure to liberation. Until now, Edna has done what she thought was expected of her since she was a teenager. She had been adapted by her father to observe the principles of a male-centered culture and had recognized her position as a wife and mother. Her inability to marry a man inspired by a balanced marriage has led her to accept that it's easier to just accommodate. However, she can no longer and no longer wants to adapt to the wishes of her loved one. What has happened is that she sees herself simply acting like the many mothers living on Grande Isle in the middle of the year, taking care of her loved ones and her children, and she doesn't care of what she sees. She has sympathy for these ladies and their ability to completely destroy themselves. Edna, in this sense, shockingly discovers that she should object simply because she is actually defying his wife, in the same way that she resisted her father by marrying a man he did not support. She wants to be the kind of woman she chooses to be again and feels the truth coming back to her as she moves. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a custom essayFinally, The Awakening by Kate Chopin depicts a lady struggling to find her female job in the American South in the 19th century. Edna's pursuit is fraught with obstacles and disarray. His first obstacle is his childhood which.