The Awakening is a novel about a young woman coming to find herself, as well as breaking away from the typical stereotype of her generation. Since women were expected to devote themselves to their children and husbands, not many of them did things for themselves. Edna Pontellier was never the perfect motherly type. She later on discovers herself and her feelings about things that are important to her. The novel is mainly about Edna’s “awakening” and her ability to finally claim herself, for herself. Throughout the book she learns about herself and is surprised by the many things she is able to do on her own. She makes her own decisions, learns how to swim, and falls in love. One of the most important moments in the book is when Edna realizes that her husband doesn’t own her; she is set free from him and his decisions about her life. The two biggest motivations for Edna’s “awakening” were Robert, and the sea. She meets a man named Robert, who she falls in love with; he is the first person Edna really loves. The sea is a recurring scene in the book, Edna learns to swim here, and she finds out she can do anything she wants after teaching herself to swim. The novel ends in a suicide, Edna drowns herself, although some might say she has gone crazy, I believe she was simply expressing her free will and ability to chose what was best for herself, her life was complete.
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