The Making of Survivor: Chopin's Use of Identity and Rebirth in The Awakening

Presenter Information

Amber Budd, Lindenwood University

Start Date

9-4-2024 12:00 AM

Description

In recent research of American literature, many scholars have read Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and construed the novel’s ambiguous ending as an indication that the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, commits suicide after the ending. Scholars have developed this hypothesis due to contextual evidence, societal expectations at the time Chopin wrote the novel, and Edna’s perceived development of identity over the course of the novel. In this paper, I analyze the popular theories arguing for Edna’s suicide or survival and then examine those articles in conjunction with my own analysis of The Awakening. By doing so, I aim to prove that, contrary to popular scholarly belief, Edna Pontellier does not commit suicide after The Awakening’s conclusion.

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Apr 9th, 12:00 AM

The Making of Survivor: Chopin's Use of Identity and Rebirth in The Awakening

In recent research of American literature, many scholars have read Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and construed the novel’s ambiguous ending as an indication that the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, commits suicide after the ending. Scholars have developed this hypothesis due to contextual evidence, societal expectations at the time Chopin wrote the novel, and Edna’s perceived development of identity over the course of the novel. In this paper, I analyze the popular theories arguing for Edna’s suicide or survival and then examine those articles in conjunction with my own analysis of The Awakening. By doing so, I aim to prove that, contrary to popular scholarly belief, Edna Pontellier does not commit suicide after The Awakening’s conclusion.