https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu en-us 2023-07-10 06:37:53 UTC 2026-01-11 23:20:42 UTC hello@padlet.com nairaashearr06 https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641652915 "The Awakening" explores the theme of individuality by showcasing its protagonist, Edna Pontellier, undergoing a literal "awakening" of sorts, as she realises that the structure of her society is meant to condition women into restrictive, expected roles, rather than allow them to exist as individual beings. It showcases Edna discovering herself, her true identity separate from the constraints of what society typically expects of women, and her breaking free from the shackles of collective social expectations by being her own individual.]]> 2023-07-10 07:24:10 UTC https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641652915 nairaashearr06 https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641656356 Edna Pontellier, while discovering her individuality, also discovers her sexual desires. She encounters Robert Lebrun, and awakens her true desires and sensuality -- an awakening, which would be considered "promiscuous" or "unsightly" for a person of the female gender to even remotely display. It incites discussions around the relationship between women and their sexualities, and how the concept of sex is considered "impure" for a woman to desire, in both past and contemporary societies.

]]> 2023-07-10 07:29:16 UTC https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641656356 nairaashearr06 https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641661282 Marriage in "The Awakening" is discussed as an institution of social and economic expectations, wherein women are required to play the parts of both a submissive wife to their husbands and a doting mother to their children. Edna is explicitly dissatisfied by her marriage, and feels trapped, unable to be her own individual. It interlinks with other themes, playing the part as the overarching theme of the novel - as Edna discovers her sexual desires, it clashes with the ideas that in women in such a society are meant to be satisfied with marriage alone, and not have any other desires, let alone one of such proactive nature. Women are meant to be happy with marriage alone, when in reality it is truly just an economic advantage for men, where women are nothing if not just meant to be subservient and conformist.]]> 2023-07-10 07:36:16 UTC https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641661282 nairaashearr06 https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641663884 The novel discusses and critiques the societal expectations and roles placed on women in the 19th century. It delves into the idea of gender roles for both women and men and discusses the constraints and shackles they provide. It also showcases how breaking these stereotypes provide liberation, if not temporarily, and how due to the majority of society being conformist and collectivist, the gender stereotypes result in the suicide of Edna Pontellier.]]> 2023-07-10 07:40:27 UTC https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641663884 nairaashearr06 https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641667096 The novel discusses this as both a theme and a global issue, as it is a major part of Edna's self-discovery. In the time period of the novel, women were not allowed to have sexual desires, as it was widely perpetuated that all women MUST desire a husband, children and a marriage. Anything outside of the category was deemed unsightly and provocative. This global issue applies to modern society as well, as even in present times, women and those of the female sex are still being punished for engaging in sexual activity - be it by shaming, banning healthcare like abortion, or outright twisting the act negatively. Women and sex have been constantly plagued by shame and disgust throughout history, and "The Awakening" discusses this global issue in detail, making Edna's sexuality a forefront of her self-discovery.]]> 2023-07-10 07:46:18 UTC https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641667096 nairaashearr06 https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641669791 1) Gender roles in the 19th century | The British Library (bl.uk)

2) New Orleans - French Quarter, Jazz, Mardi Gras | Britannica

3) https://www.liquisearch.com/the_awakening_novel/publication_and_critical_reception

]]> 2023-07-10 07:51:15 UTC https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641669791 nairaashearr06 https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641671760 The novel is set in the 19th century - which, in context, was when gender roles in society became more pronounced - men would spend days working whereas women were left to tend to the domestic, household duties. Education in this era, for women particularly, would also revolve around domestic duties, as they were taught from a young age how to perform household tasks. Given the publication of the novel in the very same era, a lot of its content is drawn from the situation of the society at the time, and mainly from real-life experiences.

The novel takes place in New Orleans, which in the 19th Century, underwent significant economic growth. However, due to the Civil War, and yellow fever, this growth would decline towards the end of the century.]]> 2023-07-10 07:54:09 UTC https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641671760 nairaashearr06 https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641674704 The novel was published in 1899 and was met with obvious criticisms due to its content. It was considered outlandish and "harmful" to women, due to its depictions of female sexuality, infidelity, and its questioning of societal expectations and norms. In a way, the book was received in the exact societal behaviors the book calls out.

This would lead to the novel being out of print until it was rediscovered in the late 20th century.]]> 2023-07-10 08:00:05 UTC https://padlet.com/nairaashearr06/fm5ujw6en5tppsxu/wish/2641674704