59 pages • 1 hour read
Kate ChopinThe Awakening
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1899A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Awakening by Kate Chopin outlines the journey of Edna Pontellier, a woman vacationing at Grand Isle in 1890s Louisiana, who begins to embrace her independence and desires, influenced by her relationships with friends and the attentions of Robert Lebrun. This process of self-discovery continues when she returns to New Orleans, increasingly rejecting societal roles of wife and mother, ultimately facing a profound internal conflict about her freedom and responsibilities. The book includes sensitive topics like infidelity, mental health struggles, and self-harm.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening is celebrated for its pioneering exploration of female independence and sexuality. Praised for its lyrical prose and depth, some readers find its main character's decisions controversial and unsettling. While seen as ahead of its time by many, others criticize it for promoting values they view as morally questionable. Overall, it's a provocative and influential novel.
Who Should Read The Awakening?
An ideal reader for The Awakening by Kate Chopin enjoys exploring themes of female independence, self-discovery, and societal constraints. This reader appreciates literary classics such as Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper, which also delve into women's inner lives and societal roles.