Societal Standards In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

When my brother Bill announced his decision to join the wrestling team in ninth grade, he was quickly dissuaded by our family. “Wrestling is dangerous and is not for studious fellows like you,” grandmother warned. Filial expectations pressured him to practice more “elegant” arts like karate and painting, and activities as cutthroat as wrestling were certainly off-limits. This type of paradox often boils down to whether one should feel obligated to conform to societal morals. In Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening, the author discusses the potential of societal standards becoming an encumbrance to an individual’s pursuit of happiness. The plot revolves around a young married woman striving to live her own life in spite of cultural norms pressuring her to conform. Edna Pontellier seeks to discover her place in her world and struggles to find balance between societal standards and her own passions. While everybody has obligations and responsibilities to one’s family, people should still follow their passions because societal expectations are not appropriate measures to determine if people have fulfilled their duty in life. Each individual has the right to determine how he or she will fulfill one’s duty in society without sacrificing his or her aspirations. A young mother like Edna certainly has many matronly
Therefore, people should not feel obligated to conform to society’s standards if the standards conflict with their passion. While many people religiously adhere to societal norms, it is worthwhile to consider the value of maintaining each convention because they are not inherently correct. Following one’s pursuits is as morally justified as complying with societal morals. This is why I supported my brother when he expressed his interest in wrestling. After Bill joined the wrestling team, his listlessness turned into vigor and,unsurprisingly, his grades only