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sarabrger's review against another edition
5.0
I love Edna and fully support all of her rights and wrongs. Let a girl live.
lingualibri's review against another edition
4.0
*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*
Despite accidentally reading the introduction (which gave away the ending in the first paragraph), this book still managed to leave me thinking, "Wait...what just happened?"
Chopin's writing style is unique, and I ad.ire the way she cut out useless dialogue, or even clues in the reader on important dialogue without giving the actual text. The story almost reads like a heavily narrated film. Additionally, I am both baffled and impressed by the way certain events are implied, rather than discussed. There were many times I had to reread a paragraph, and eventually come to my own conclusions. Even Edna's suicide drifts into ambiguity as the deed is being done.
Ah yes. About that suicide. About that Edna. Not long ago, I read "The Sense of an Ending," in which a group of young men contemplate the suicides of their classmates. While the boys nearly scoff at their peer who has killed himself after impregnating his girlfriend, they respect the peer who kills himself simply because he can as an advanced and intellectual being. Edna reminds me of this second peer. While Chopin makes it clear that Edna's suicide is selfish and unfair to her children, it has also already been established that Edna is not willing to give up her soul for her boys. Chopin early states that Edna is not "a mother-woman." While these characteristics have been and continue to be controversial, I am not surprised or offended by Edna's actions, based on the information given previously in the story.
Anyway, back to the suicide. In a way, and despite her selfishness (which I don't deny), I can almost admire Edna's convictions, and her dedication to them. Like the second suicide in "The Sense of an Ending," Edna's undoing borders on the appearance of intellectual. She has taken command of her life to its fullest extent; and now there is nothing left but to command her own death. She isn't doing it in the name of love of feminism. She is doing it because she wants to. She has been awakened to her true self, and she has successfully evaded anyone taking it away from her. At least, that's how I would like to imagine Edna's true character.
In reality, however, she was most likely just a self-centered and spoiled woman who could not handle heartbreak.
Chopin's writing is vague. Make your own conclusion.
Despite accidentally reading the introduction (which gave away the ending in the first paragraph), this book still managed to leave me thinking, "Wait...what just happened?"
Chopin's writing style is unique, and I ad.ire the way she cut out useless dialogue, or even clues in the reader on important dialogue without giving the actual text. The story almost reads like a heavily narrated film. Additionally, I am both baffled and impressed by the way certain events are implied, rather than discussed. There were many times I had to reread a paragraph, and eventually come to my own conclusions. Even Edna's suicide drifts into ambiguity as the deed is being done.
Ah yes. About that suicide. About that Edna. Not long ago, I read "The Sense of an Ending," in which a group of young men contemplate the suicides of their classmates. While the boys nearly scoff at their peer who has killed himself after impregnating his girlfriend, they respect the peer who kills himself simply because he can as an advanced and intellectual being. Edna reminds me of this second peer. While Chopin makes it clear that Edna's suicide is selfish and unfair to her children, it has also already been established that Edna is not willing to give up her soul for her boys. Chopin early states that Edna is not "a mother-woman." While these characteristics have been and continue to be controversial, I am not surprised or offended by Edna's actions, based on the information given previously in the story.
Anyway, back to the suicide. In a way, and despite her selfishness (which I don't deny), I can almost admire Edna's convictions, and her dedication to them. Like the second suicide in "The Sense of an Ending," Edna's undoing borders on the appearance of intellectual. She has taken command of her life to its fullest extent; and now there is nothing left but to command her own death. She isn't doing it in the name of love of feminism. She is doing it because she wants to. She has been awakened to her true self, and she has successfully evaded anyone taking it away from her. At least, that's how I would like to imagine Edna's true character.
In reality, however, she was most likely just a self-centered and spoiled woman who could not handle heartbreak.
Chopin's writing is vague. Make your own conclusion.
nastjarchive's review against another edition
4.0
"I am no longer one of Mr. Pontelliere's possessions to dispose of or not. I give myself where I choose. If he were to say, 'Here Robert, take her and be happy; she is yours,' I should laugh at you both.”
Edna's quest for independence and her struggle to break free from the roles of motherhood and wifehood made for a very compelling read. Truly a revolutionary piece of fiction, considering the age in which it was written. The ending served as a tragic reminder that there was no real way to freedom for a woman in those times.
Edna's quest for independence and her struggle to break free from the roles of motherhood and wifehood made for a very compelling read. Truly a revolutionary piece of fiction, considering the age in which it was written. The ending served as a tragic reminder that there was no real way to freedom for a woman in those times.
anaia_baker's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
zoemaja's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lementical's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautiful and heartbreaking. The romance was thrilling. There is a deep sense of melancholy throughout this book that can only be truly understood by women who exist outside of societal conventions. This being so, I saw the worst parts of myself in Edna. This is a product of its time, however; this would be a perfect book to me if the descriptions of people of color weren’t so brash and rooted in southern racism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Racism
ollie_gore's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
iriswindmeijer's review against another edition
5.0
I adore The Awakening, the plot is not really elaborate and exciting but the personal development of Edna is a really interesting read. I can fully identify with her being unhappy in her situation and her need for personal liberation. In this "second Bovary", Edna is shaped by her surroundings but by finding a room for herself, she finds personal liberation. Her process of awakening is interesting and an eye-opener.
The modernist narration with no judgement and the use of the ice-berg principle make it possible for the reader to fill in the story, which I love to do. Although there is some moral ambiguity about Edna's awakening, it still feels completely justified to me.
I'd surely recommend this novel.
The modernist narration with no judgement and the use of the ice-berg principle make it possible for the reader to fill in the story, which I love to do. Although there is some moral ambiguity about Edna's awakening, it still feels completely justified to me.
I'd surely recommend this novel.
samhenrietta's review against another edition
3.0
Liked the idea of it. Think I would’ve enjoyed it more if I took a class on it lol
f1reandash's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5