Analysis of The Awakening Through the Clash of Two Cultures

The thesis of this article is that The Awakening was really concerned with the effects of a clash between two cultures rather than advocating for women's liberation.

Contrary to what most people choose to believe, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, is not necessarily a book about how women were oppressed in the late 1800's. In the essay I read, by Nancy Walker, Walker argues that, instead, Chopin could have been trying to show what happens when two cultures with opposite beliefs come together.

Edna grew up as a part of a Presbyterian family in Kentucky. It is implied in the novel that her father was even the preacher, so the strict morals that came along with being a Presbyterian were probably very strongly enforced in her family. She grew up unable to express herself because sexuality and outward displays of affection were frowned upon by her society. Edna was taught not to show emotions, especially emotions that might make her act outside of the morals of Presbyterian society, such as how she feels for Robert or Arobin.

However, when Edna marries Leonce Pontellier, she is now forced to live in a culture that is very much the opposite of the one she was raised in. The Creoles that Edna lived with since her marriage were very sensual people. They were Catholic, but they were not bound by the strict rules that Edna grew up with. For the first many years of her marriage, Edna does not seem to change her ways very much. It is likely that she continued to live how she did in Kentucky. This is supported by the fact that she was still shocked when Madame Ratignolle held her hand. As a part of their culture, the Creoles did not give much thought to consequences. They openly danced, gambled, and enjoyed life for the moment. They are openly affectionate towards each other. Edna was taught to suppress these feelings, so when she sees people expressing them, it comes as a sort of culture shock. She is unable to partake in these displays of emotions for a while, and the book is written when she starts to accept the culture.

As many people that decide to try something new do, Edna goes overboard when she decides to finally take part in the culture she married into. Robert and Adelle represent proper conduct in Creole culture. They are expressive yet reserved so as not to cross a line. Robert stops himself when he sees that he has the ability to do something that is absolutely taboo. Edna, since she is so new to these ideas, is unable to regulate how she acts when she is trying to behave regarding these cultural norms rather than the Puritanical ideas she was raised with. She gives in too much to her own whims and desires. This results in her acting without regard to consequence, as we see throughout the book. Edna's suicide shows her failure to adapt to the Creole culture.

I believe that the points in this article were very well argued and supported. The author was short and to the point and her argument was clear. I can definitely see how this point of view can be true. This is also supported by the fact that the rest of the marriages in the story are happy marriages, which was another point brought up by Walker. I believe The Awakening may be a book about a culture clash rather than women's liberation, and I think that both points should be taught to students studying the book.