In this video I’ll summarize the plot of The Awakening in about 4 minutes and give you an analysis of the story. Okay, let’s get started with the introduction.
1. Edna’s Discontent with Society
The novel begins with Edna Pontellier, a young wife and mother, vacationing at Grand Isle, a summer resort for wealthy Creole families in Louisiana. Though she is married to Léonce Pontellier, a successful businessman, she feels restless and constrained by the expectations of society. Unlike the other women around her, who fully embrace their roles as devoted wives and mothers, Edna struggles with the idea that her life should revolve around her husband and children.
During the summer, she forms a close friendship with Robert Lebrun, a charming young man who enjoys flirtations with married women but has never taken them seriously. However, as they spend more time together, Edna develops deeper feelings for him, awakening emotions she has never fully explored before.
2. Edna’s Growing Independence
As summer ends and Edna returns to New Orleans, she finds herself changed. No longer content with her conventional role, she begins to rebel against the expectations placed upon her. She stops performing her social duties, defies her husband’s authority, and pursues artistic expression through painting. She also forms a friendship with Mademoiselle Reisz, an unconventional pianist who encourages her to follow her desires without fear of judgment.
Meanwhile, Robert, realizing the depth of his feelings for Edna, abruptly leaves for Mexico, hoping to escape the temptation of an affair. His departure deepens Edna’s emotional turmoil, reinforcing her sense of isolation.
3. Edna’s Pursuit of Passion
With Robert gone, Edna continues to push the boundaries of her independence. She moves out of her husband’s house into a small cottage, symbolizing her desire for personal freedom. She also begins an affair with Alcée Arobin, a seductive bachelor who introduces her to physical pleasure without emotional attachment. Though she enjoys the excitement of the affair, she realizes that her true longing is not for passion alone but for complete autonomy.
During this time, she receives letters from Robert, but they remain distant and cautious, reinforcing her frustration. She continues to see Mademoiselle Reisz, who reminds her that true independence requires the strength to live outside of society’s approval.
4. Robert’s Return and Edna’s Realization
Robert eventually returns from Mexico, and Edna hopes they can finally be together. However, Robert is conflicted—he loves Edna but cannot fully embrace a relationship that defies social norms. He sees no future for them without scandal and heartbreak. When Edna leaves to care for a friend in labor, she returns to find a note from Robert saying, “I love you. Goodbye.”
This moment shatters Edna’s hopes. She realizes that even love cannot provide the freedom she desires. No matter how much she seeks independence, she is still trapped by societal expectations and the limitations placed upon women.
5. Edna’s Final Choice
Devastated by Robert’s departure and the realization that she can never truly escape society’s restrictions, Edna returns to Grand Isle, the place where her awakening first began. She walks into the ocean, stripping away her clothes—symbolizing her rejection of societal constraints—and swims out into the water. As she drifts further, she recalls memories from her past, thinking of her children but also recognizing that she refuses to live a life of sacrifice.
The novel ends ambiguously, but it is strongly implied that Edna drowns herself, choosing death over a life that denies her true desires.
Theme 1: Female Independence
One of the central themes of The Awakening is Edna’s search for independence in a world that demands women conform to strict roles as wives and mothers. Edna’s journey reflects the limitations placed upon women in the nineteenth century, where true autonomy was nearly impossible. Her attempts to break free—through art, love, and personal choice—ultimately reveal the painful reality that society does not allow women to exist outside of these expectations.
Theme 2: Desire vs. Responsibility
Edna’s struggle is also a conflict between personal desire and societal duty. She longs for love, passion, and self-expression, but she is constantly reminded of her responsibilities as a wife and mother. While other women around her embrace their roles without question, Edna cannot ignore her dissatisfaction. Her final decision reflects the tragic realization that, in her world, there is no space for a woman who refuses to choose duty over her own happiness.