The (in)appropriateness of Edna's behavior throughout the novel. Does her "awakening" benefit society, women, or herself? "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin.

When "The Awakening" begins, Edna is a polite and respectable woman who concerns herself little with her standing in society; however, as her "awakening" progresses, she's transformed into a self-centered and detrimental member of her community. Edna lets her misconception that she has a more complex understanding of the world serve as an excuse for her to harm everyone around her. In reality, Edna's "awakening" is only a change from a kind to an unappealing individual who's distorted sense of reality has, if anything, only grown worse.

Throughout the initial chapters, Edna's actions lead to a deterioration of her moral integrity. The first relationship Edna has is with her loving and devoted husband Leonce. Likewise, he is the first one victimized by Edna's change. Edna justifies her treatment of Leonce by focusing on the role he expects a wife to fill and how it limits her freedom; however, it is important to consider an underlying contributor to Edna's cruelty.

English: Edna May

English: Edna and husband Oscar Lewisohn

English: Edna May

As Leonce married Edna because he loved her, Edna admits, "Her marriage to Leonce Pontellier was purely an accident" (14). Through her marriage to Leonce, Edna has, in effect, made the decision to cast aside her life of passion and to begin a life where she would feel socially and financially secure. Unfortunately, although Edna does not yet realize it, her "symptoms of infatuation which she had felt incipiently as a chid" (44) have not wholly departed. Once Edna realizes that she married for the wrong reasons, instead of accepting responsibility for her decision, she shifts the blame to Leonce who's only mistake was marrying out of love. Knowing Edna's initial mind-set upon entering the marriage, we must hesitate before accepting her complaints against being oppressed and wonder if maybe the real blame lies in Edna's premature commitment to a life...