A_Sexual_Awakening

Edna’s Sexual Awakening Keith Joiner South University Online Edna’s Sexual Awakening I’m going to explore Chopin’s “The Awakening” from a feminist perspective. Edna Pontellier was in a loveless marriage, and even with all the money she had and her privileged lifestyle, she was a very unhappy woman. What made her so unhappy' Well I believe it was just the mundane life living with her husband, and the societal norms, that she felt oppressed by. Her awakening in a sexual way came about by way of two different men, Alcee Arobin and Robert LeBrun. Since we are speaking from the way a woman may view the story of “The Awakening,” lets also consider the psychoanalytical perspective, and the historical perspective. First there is a lot of psychoanalysis to be discovered in the text, certain things depicted can be analyzed as representing certain aspects of Edna’s life, and where her mental state was at the time. For example when she found herself in a sexual relationship with the first man Alcee Arobin, the reader can ask themselves what she was thinking. What mental state was she in' Did this give her courage to expand into more of a romance with the younger man Robert' Clearly the other man Alcee Arobin was purely a sexual relationship, but with Robert it’s obvious her feelings were more than just physical. Edna really thought she was in love with Robert. Examining the text from a historical perspective, Edna’s behavior during this post-civil war time was unheard of. For a woman during that time, to behave the way Edna did, her husband and other’s thought she went crazy, and needed psychiatric treatment. Clearly when Chopin wrote the original text in 1899 after the civil war, and before women had any rights. Chopin makes the effort to get across to her audience a certain feminist perspective. Edna reaches out to go for the gusto, so to speak. In those days men had the right to assert themselves sexually without fear of reprisal. This was another thing women had to hide, their sexuality. Edna’s hesitation at first gave way to a full blown sexual liberation within herself, as an expression of freedom from her husband, and the parameters of society. Men in those days thought a woman’s job was to maintain the home and take care of the children, and basically wait on them hand and foot. (Chopin, 2005, Chapter IV para.3). Although Leonce “thought it very discouraging that his wife (Edna), who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation.”(Chopin, 2005, Chapter III, para.4). To Edna why was everything Leonce talked about more important than what was important to her' This shows she was bored with him, and the marriage. Chopin leads her readers to believe that this thought by Leonce shows a lack of interest in what Edna’s needs were, but focused more on him as being the more important entity in their relationship. Whereas the younger man Robert made Edna feel important, and that she was more than a mother, and a housewife. So in Edna’s mind she had no life of her own. This would bring her much unhappiness, suppressed sexual feelings, and feelings of neglect. This made her, have issues with her own self-worth. Edna soon discovers a new found independence, freedom, sensual expression, and a sexual awakening. She wants to live her life without being suppressed under the weight of society, or the social class of people that her family was associated with. This behavior, by Edna cannot be understood by most people of that time. Although things like this happen all the time in today’s society, it wasn’t accepted at the time Chopin wrote her novel. I think all Edna wants, is just to be accepted in society, no matter what decision she makes. Leonce, Edna’s Husband is very critical of her mothering style, this also pushes her to long for the understanding of another man. Maybe Edna was not the slender beautiful woman that most men would chase after, but she felt attractive enough to explore her sexual inhibitions. (Chopin, 2005, Chapter II, para. 2). Leonce ways of putting down Edna eventually leads to her affair, and sexual liaisons. This ultimately leads Edna to a life that she so desperately wants. She moves away from her husband, and gets her own home, and for once in Edna’s life she feels free to pursue her own life as she sees fit. Edna now has an independent connection, feeling like she has now become part of the universe, “and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her.” (Chopin, 2005, Chapter VI, para.4). In conclusion Edna fights within herself about her marriage to Leonce, her sexual relations with the two men Alcee Arobin, and Robert Lebrun. Edna also struggles with society, fighting to break free and become her own person. She also awakens sexual feelings that had been dormant for years, once she felt the sweet life of being an independent woman, I think she was determined not to go back to the way her life was before. I think Chopin wanted to get across to her audience the fact that Edna had a choice in the end, even if it was a tragic one, she had control over what she would ultimately do with her life. Even by today’s standards critics would comment on Edna’s life as immoral or unethical. For people of that time however it was just flat out lunacy. For her to leave her family to pursue things for herself, buying her own house, seeking sexual relations with another man, earning her own living, having her own money. These are all things most women could not do, but most of the women of that time were afraid to venture out like Edna did, she ultimately pays for it in the end. So what turns out to be the price of freedom' Her life' References: Chopin, K. (2005). The awakening [VitalSource digital version]. Raleigh, NC: Hayes Barton Press.