Kate Chopin reflects her personal opinions in "The Awakening"

Kate Chopin was an extremely progressive writer for her time period. Most of her stories pertained to the fact the she didn’t want to live of to society’s expectations, but her own. These ideas can be put across in her story, The Awakening. Through the parts of the story I have read so far, Mrs. Pontillier doesn’t show the typical nature of what was expected of a women. For instance, she rarely had any dialouge with her husband in the first few chapters, even the first time we see them together in the story, they’re almost silent . “She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands, and surveyed them critically, drawing up her fawn sleeves above the wrists. Looking at them reminded her of her rings, which she had given to her husband before leaving for the beach. She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm.” simply from that we can already see the poor state of their marriage. The distance most likely created by Mrs. Pontillier (who has made her unwillingness to conform not only to her gender roles but also to basic wife/motherly roles obvious) is also affecting how Mr. Pontillier acts, who does not coming home until late at night. In my opinion, these two are more in need of marriage counseling than I am in need if money. I’m broke and have expensive tastes, so that’s saying something.