"The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth." The Awakening follows Edna Pontellier, a resident of coastal Grand Isle of Louisiana, in her late twenties, who has a quintessential set-up for a content housewife. Indeed, her husband makes good money, and her daily routine should gleefully hinge on the two children, but, Edna is neither a self-sacrificing mother, nor a devoted wife ...
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"The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth." The Awakening follows Edna Pontellier, a resident of coastal Grand Isle of Louisiana, in her late twenties, who has a quintessential set-up for a content housewife. Indeed, her husband makes good money, and her daily routine should gleefully hinge on the two children, but, Edna is neither a self-sacrificing mother, nor a devoted wife. Instead, she is gradually awoken to rebel against this 'perfect set-up'. Edna finds herself in the middle of two extremes. On one hand, she finds selfless Madame Ratignolle, who is a model wife. On the other, there is dejected Mademoiselle Reisz, who pursues her artistic aspiration in solitude. While taking bold decisions and carving her niche, she explores her sexuality with a womanizer, Alcee and an intimate understanding with a young man, Robert Lebrun. Will this awakening predetermine her ultimate happiness or signpost personal tragedy? Will the duality of the 'outward existence' and 'inward life' be reconciled for Edna to signify her emancipation? This short novel is widely acknowledged to do both, encapsulating the features of fin de si�cle realism in its linear narrative, and anticipates literary modernism of the early twentieth century. Edna's defiance of the American alternative of Victorian 'Angel in the House' is reminiscent of such classics as Anna Bront�'s Tenant of the Wildfell Hall . The Awakening also procures modernist works where the heroines look for the self - namely, Mrs Dalloway , Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Bell Jar . The condensed and intense prose style gives the novel a cryptic charm in line with Fitzgerald's classic, The Great Gatsby. Besides, vivid natural symbolism of water, birds and the moon are the calling card of the novel that enhances its level of ambiguity and multivalence. The Legend Classics series: Around the World in Eighty Days The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Importance of Being Earnest Alice's Adventures in Wonderland The Metamorphosis The Railway Children The Hound of the Baskervilles Frankenstein Wuthering Heights Three Men in a Boat The Time Machine Little Women Anne of Green Gables The Jungle Book The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories Dracula A Study in Scarlet Leaves of Grass The Secret Garden The War of the Worlds A Christmas Carol Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Heart of Darkness The Scarlet Letter This Side of Paradise Oliver Twist The Picture of Dorian Gray Treasure Island The Turn of the Screw The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Emma The Trial A Selection of Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe Grimm Fairy Tales The Awakening Mrs Dalloway Gulliver's Travels The Castle of Otranto Silas Marner Hard Times
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has soft covers. With owner's inscription inside cover. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. Some light foxing on page edges. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 300grams, ISBN: 0399500316.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. [ No Hassle 30 Day Returns ][ Underlining/Highlighting: SOME ] [ Writing: SOME ] [ Edition: first ] Publisher: A Perigee Book Pub Date: 1/1/1980 Binding: paperback Pages: 303.
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Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
I was mad throughout most of this book. The way women are treated is just awful. I know that this is for some but not for me.
J
May 26, 2020
A LOCKDOWN MUST
Though much has changed, this novel allows its reader to recall the journey of the feminist, the difficulties, gains and losses faced when ingrained oppression through secular or otherwise religion blurs individualism. I read this book twice for clarity and can foresee revisiting it whenever uncertainty ensues.
Rebecca S
Jan 29, 2012
Women must read this
If you're a wife, mother, or just a woman who loves the sea, you must read this. It's a crime that it didn't get enough recognition at the time, read it now to do Kate Chopin some justice.
bohuslava h
Oct 12, 2010
Masterpiece
The novel AWAKENING is a masterpiece by Kate Chopin. She mastered the art of literary writing and criticizing the society in a harmonic way. This unconventional novel was supposed to open the eyes of patriarchal society but was rejected and caused an end to Chopin's career. Edna's awakening is overwhelming, once we realize the social and cultural background of the story. Edna does not conform to expectations from the society and fails to be a normative woman- wife and woman-mother. She starts to realize her own individuality and independence, however, the society in which she lives is not ready to accept such deviation yet.
SLOVAKIA
TeriK
Jan 12, 2010
Feminist -- Really?
I have always heard Chopin praised as a writer, and The Awakening touted as one of the first truly feminist works. Her writing style is unique. It's spare and detached. I neither liked or disliked the characters, and I believe Chopin meant us to read her book that way. It was a strange experience considering the plot. Her description are beautiful, her word choice excellent. How else could we feel we so understand her characters, while not feeling anything FOR them?
That's not completely true, though. I did become fond of Robert, and definitely came to dislike the main character, Edna. Totally self-absorbed, showing herself to be without any self discipline or control, Edna's 'awakening' took place with no concern for others. She freely admitted that she only cared for herself. That's one reason I can't think of this as a book on feminism, unless you use that term to mean women doing whatever they feel like at any given moment, however much they may damage others.
Don't let that make you think I felt The Awakening was a waste of time. The style alone makes it worth reading for those who don't only care only about plot. The simplicity of the relatively short book is an interesting contrast will all that goes on inside. Just don't go into it thinking you're opening a typical novel, and perhaps you won't be disappointed.
