The Awakening

The Awakening is a novel written by Kate Chopin, first published in 1899. The story is set in the late 19th century in New Orleans and follows the life of Edna Pontellier, a young married woman who is struggling to find her place in society. Edna is married to a successful businessman and has two young sons, but she feels unfulfilled in her role as a wife and mother. As she begins to explore her own desires and passions, she becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the limitations placed on women in her society. Through a series of encounters with other characters, including a charming young man named Robert Lebrun and a free-spirited artist named Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna begins to awaken to her own desires and needs. She starts to question the expectations placed on her as a woman and begins to assert her own independence. This leads to conflict with her husband and other members of her social circle, who do not understand or accept her newfound sense of self.The novel explores themes of gender roles, societal expectations, and the limitations placed on women during this time period. It is considered a landmark work of feminist literature and has been praised for its honest and nuanced portrayal of a woman's struggle for independence and self-discovery.She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again. Edna heard her father's voice and her sister Margaret's. She heard the barking of an old dog that was chained to the sycamore tree. The spurs of the cavalry officer clanged as he walked across the porch. There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of pinks filled the air.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.