Conflicting Directions Of Ambitions in Kate Chopins The Awakening :: essays research papers

Often in novels, a character faces conflicting directions of ambitions, desires, and influences. In such a novel, like &8220The Awakening, the briny character, Edna Pontellier, faces these types of conflicting ideas. In a controversial era for women, Edna faces the conflict of dungeon in burdensomeness but desiring freedom. The patriarchal time period has influenced women to support barely under the husband&8217s thumb but at the same time, break away from such repression. These opposing conflicts illuminated the sum of &8220social awakening in the novel.In the first direction, the reader witnesses the era when women only existed to make the anthropoid happy. The main character Edna finds that she has nothing to do early(a) than stay in the house bored, since even her children are raised and cared for by servants. Day after day, all Edna is permitted to do is care for her husband and be there whenever he needs help or entertainment. Woman at that time could not vote, could no t go out without a male escort, were not allowed to smoke in public, and were not allowed in the work place. These ideals luck by the male driven society caused Edna to face her second drive of free will, conflicting with her other direction of oppression.When Edna felt dissatisfied with the lifetime she is given, she pursues other ways in which to live more fully. She attempts painting and enters into an juncture with another man. As her desire for freedom grows, she moves out of her husband&8217s house and tries to live life as she sees fit. She lives a life reflecting her clean philosophies towards life, philosophies that are in conflict with that of society. The oppression by man caused Edna to guard a social awakening, illuminating the meaning of the novel.In &8220The Awakening, the conflicting directions of oppression versus free will illuminate the meanings of social awakening and overcoming tyranny. Awakening from the cessation of patriarchal social convention, Edna m ust rouse herself from the life of dullness she has evermore lived.