Individualism In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

We are taught from an early onset to choose in its most simplistic way “right from wrong,” to make decisions subconsciously correct just because we know better. Things that encounter themselves organically like looking both ways when crossing a street, or knowing not to touch something scorching with your bare hands. Women in the 19th century were taught to do as men said, it came to them as an instinct. A women was meant to marry, raise and care for the home. But some women defied this ideology, and it was thanks to those women that women now have so many rights. However some women defied these ideologies for the wrong reasons or causes, there for making them and their actions pathetic. They didn’t just fail at their individualism but they …show more content…
Edna was raised in a religious home, so you would think that she would take these kinds of commitments seriously. She does not, during her vacations at Grand Isle every summer she becomes more acquainted with Robert Lebrun who is known for his flirtatious ways with married women. This summer in particular she becomes too friendly with him to the point of falling in love with him. “She had never sent for him before. She had never asked for him. She had never seemed to want him before. She did not appear conscious that she had done anything unusual in commanding his presence.” (pg 33) she is married and she openly askes for the presence of another man. Edna is well aware of what she is doing, and so is Robert. Robert in fact was warn about messing with a married women by Ratignolle but he choose not to listen. By going out to places with Robert Edna is disgracing her husband, she is not behaving like a married women should behave. Later in the novel Edna finds out that Robert is going to Mexico, her heart is crushed but he assures her that he will write to her, “”write to me when you get there, won’t you Robert?.... I will, thank you. Good-by.” (p.g 45) He does not write back and this takes Edna to a dark place within her, she decides to focus on herself and disregard her children, husband and house. She loses herself in her paintings and she even meets a new guy (Alcee, you could say she tries to replace the space Robert left with him. That was a pathetic decision from her part because once Robert returns her feelings for him are stronger. But she cannot stop herself from feeling trapped, she knows she could never leave her husband. She is a women without any rights. “She thought of Leonce and the children. They were a part of her life. But they need not have thought that they could possess her body and soul…” (pg 116) she doesn’t love her family, ultimately she wanted to be free and

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