Sexism In Kate Chopin's The Awakening
Freedom:
"The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace." (Chopin 6)
The sea is used as a symbol for freedom throughout the text, which makes her drowning in the end very poetic. The sea is free to roam without any constraints. When Edna describes swimming in the sea she talks of how she wishes she could drift and swim far away.
"Their freedom of expression was at first incomprehensible to her..." (Chopin 4)
This is use of foreshadowing, Edna had very little freedom of expression or freedom of anything. The more she associates herself with her creole friends throughout the novella, the more freedom she starts to gain.
Sexism
"He thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation..." (Chopin 3)
Mr. Pontellier refers to his wife as an "object" instead of the sole "person" of his existence. This shows that his view on women is low, and that she is less than a person, but simply the "object" of a man's affection.
"You ought to feel that such things are not flattering to say to a fellow." (Chopin 8)
Robert says this to Madame Ratignolle, who was speaking her mind on what was going on between him and Mrs. Pontellier. We see that even the 'hero' …show more content…
She believed that her life would never be what she wanted it to be. However, there were always ways to get to where she wanted to be in life, though it may be just as extreme as her original plan. Running away from her family would give her the freedom she wanted so badly, she wouldn't have to deal with being "tied down" by her family. When Edna thinks "...but she would never sacrifice herself for her children." (Chopin 39) Edna was not prepared to put her children's needs in front of her and she never really
"The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace." (Chopin 6)
The sea is used as a symbol for freedom throughout the text, which makes her drowning in the end very poetic. The sea is free to roam without any constraints. When Edna describes swimming in the sea she talks of how she wishes she could drift and swim far away.
"Their freedom of expression was at first incomprehensible to her..." (Chopin 4)
This is use of foreshadowing, Edna had very little freedom of expression or freedom of anything. The more she associates herself with her creole friends throughout the novella, the more freedom she starts to gain.
Sexism
"He thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation..." (Chopin 3)
Mr. Pontellier refers to his wife as an "object" instead of the sole "person" of his existence. This shows that his view on women is low, and that she is less than a person, but simply the "object" of a man's affection.
"You ought to feel that such things are not flattering to say to a fellow." (Chopin 8)
Robert says this to Madame Ratignolle, who was speaking her mind on what was going on between him and Mrs. Pontellier. We see that even the 'hero' …show more content…
She believed that her life would never be what she wanted it to be. However, there were always ways to get to where she wanted to be in life, though it may be just as extreme as her original plan. Running away from her family would give her the freedom she wanted so badly, she wouldn't have to deal with being "tied down" by her family. When Edna thinks "...but she would never sacrifice herself for her children." (Chopin 39) Edna was not prepared to put her children's needs in front of her and she never really