Kate Chopin’s method of ending The Awakening
made me livid. Edna, just committing suicide by walking into the ocean and
swimming out, was such a unexciting ending. I was expecting more of a KABOOM, like
an unexpected twist and turn to end it all off. Kate Chopin wrote, “She went on
and on. She remembered the night she swam far out, and recalled the terror that
seized her at the fear of being unable to regain the shore. She did not look
back now, but went on and on.” (Chopin 176) In my opinion, Edna took the easy
way out because she decided to just go and literally “leave”, instead of
helping the people who cared about her the most, especially during tough times.
In a way, her committing suicide was beneficial for her kids because she never
played the role of a mother, the way most mothers would. Even though, the beginning of the book was a
little uneasy to understand, the chapters in between were definitely worth it.
The heading of your blog post gave me a little chuckle! I agree 100% with your opinions on this! Edna definitely took the easy way out, but maybe she knew her kids were better off without her. Maybe Mr. Pontellier and Robert were, too! I think Edna desired attention and that her death in the ocean was so boring.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping we would see what would happen when Mr. Pontellier and her children returned and if Edna would somehow have an actual relationship with Robert and how society would treat them if it became public. She had already accomplished living on her own for a short time and I'm sure she could have turned her life around the way she wanted to when she decided.
ReplyDeleteI think that Edna drowning was the easy way out too. She may have had her reasons, but she had left her family and children behind without her. I do find it interesting how much she had developed throughout the story though, as an individual.
ReplyDeleteFinally, people who understand. Those who sympathize with her are insane. She definitely took the easy way out, not even caring about anyone else. I was also expecting more and I will never be satisfied with her ending.
ReplyDeleteEdna believes real love is only romance. By leaving all her friends like Ms Ratignolle and such she proves my point. Her suicide was not well thought out and just a let down because she kind of does need a man to survive in the end, which undermines her character.
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