The Awakening

[calzephyr]

There are three novels on the reading list for ENGL317 - Intro to Narrative - Coming Through Slaughter by Michael Ondaajte, Foundation by Isaac Asimov and The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

The bonus of The Awakening is that it is freely available from Project Gutenberg. It's considered an early piece of feminist literature, but is so painfully dated and demonstrated the oppression of other classes of women that it is very much a product of its time. Apparently it was quite scandalous and it's easy to see why. The wealthy Edna Pontellier, after experiencing a summertime romance with young Robert Lebrun, returns to New Orleans where she progressively abandons her duties as a lady, her children are sent to live with their grandmother, her husband becomes increasingly puzzled and she pines for Robert. Young Mr. Lebrun, upon discovering that the romance will not work out, runs away to Mexico. Eventually Edna becomes an artist, moves out of her family home and despairs when Robert returns to New Orleans only to emotionally devastate her. As the social constructs fall away she creates her own prison of increasing isolation.

Truly, Kate Chopin was the Stephanie Meyers of her day. The twenty or so chapters that detail (and I do mean detail) Edna's "awakening" are infused with romantic longing and whinging. They are incredibly static and really, one only just needs to read the first 10 chapters and last six to understand the story. The writing is really terrible and not very sensual in the Victorian sense. The overly dramatic ending does the story no favours either - it seems to reinforce that artists only have one choice when dealing with their melancholy. In fact, Edna had some choice, but refused to use it.

It's hard to feel sympathy for the privileged Edna, who keeps black servants, social structure and has the money to escape the social confines of her day. But better a misguided step than no steps at all I suppose. I can see why the book was chosen for the reading list, but I think something more contemporary would have been more relatable.

Comments

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Are you familiar with the concept of "intersectionality"? If not, it's the idea that there are many types of minorities / underprivileged groups, and each one faces their own issues and concerns, and looking at the overlaps and differences between the minority groups. For example, the issues of a black woman will not be the same as a white woman, nor of a black male. And her issues will be different (and more complex) still if she's lesbian.

It's interesting that this novel is an early feminist piece, and the main character still has so many other privileges. I'll throw that onto my "to-read" list - I can probably get a free Gutenberg audiobook of it.

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

I am a ware of the concept, although I didn't realize or forgot it had a name. From a modern perspective, this book is so cringe worthy in many ways - which is always a problem - but they weren't quite thinking of universal equality at the point. I can only imagine what would happen if Robert was Roberta :-D It would be a good candidate for the author who likes to re-gender classics.

[mrs-dragon.livejournal.com]

We are so on the same wavelength here. : ) I remember reading this in English and we got to the end I just couldn't CARE. All the other girls were mopping about how it was Just So Sad, and I was completely apathetic.

The Foundation series by Assimov, however, I remember really liking. I don't remember anything about the story now (I read them 15+ years ago) but I'm glad to see that on your reading list. : )

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Glad you feel the same way :) I thought it was quite reprehensible how she ultimately abandoned the kids. The biggest writing flaw is that she spends way too much time telling instead of showing :D Yup, just couldn't work up the caring about Edna :)

I have only read Asimov's short stories. I know Foundation is a popular high school read, but we never tackled it.

[mrs-dragon.livejournal.com]

We didn't read them in high school, but my dad was a big Sci Fi buff, so I read them on my trawl through his bookcase. I really should go back and re-read his stuff. : )