Plot

Exposition

Set in the late 1800’s, The Awakening began at a pension on Grand Isle, and the audience was introduced to the wealthy, Creole community that made up the character base of the novel. As the story begins, Edna Pontellier’s role as a women and mother draws connections to the societal norms of the time. Married to Léonce Pontellier, she was expected to watch after their children, Raoul and Etienne and perform the “motherly” duties.

Edna’s apathy in this role quickly becomes apparent; she is a mother and a wife because it is her duty as a woman, not because of the love for her husband or the desire to raise children. Her interactions with her husband and children alike prove not joyous or backed by love, but simply routine.

Rising Action

Edna’s awakening to her emotions and sexuality was first sparked during the summer at Grand Isle. It was there that she grew close to Robert Lebrun, who, although intrigued by Edna, had no real intentions of creating a romantic relationship with a married woman. The infatuation was mutual, and Robert and Edna spent day after day falling in love with each other that summer. As a moral man, however, Robert recognized the danger of continuing to build a relationship with Edna, and he left Grand Isle to venture in Mexico, cutting all ties to Edna.

After Robert moved to Mexico and the Pontellier’s returned to New Orleans after the summer vacation, Edna explored her desire for freedom. She maintained friendships with Madame Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reiz, with whom she had become familiar during the stay on Grand Isle. She also rediscovered her love of painting, and spent her days visiting with her friends and practicing her art.

While Léonce and their children were away, Edna made the decision to move out of their house and into a small rental house, the Pigeon House, where she could live alone and thrive with freedom from the obligations of marriage and family.

Alcée Arobin, a notorious flirt, developed interest in Edna, and while she felt no emotional attachment to him and longed for Robert, the two of them fell into an affair, and Edna’s reputation was quickly ruined.

Climax

Robert, who had not kept in touch with Edna at all and who Edna had only heard from through letters that her friends shared, returned from Mexico. In a visit to Mademoiselle, Edna accidentally ran into Robert following his return to New Orleans. Although Robert had been intentionally avoiding her due to their mutual feelings, the two had dinner, during which, they finally expressed their love for each other and kissed one another. Edna was finally at peace and with the man she loved.

Falling Action

Immediately following the dinner between Edna and Robert, and as Robert still held Edna in his arms, she received a message about Madame Ratignolle, who was severely ill. Edna went to her friend and sat at her side as one of her closest friends passed away, leaving Edna with the advice, “‘Think of the children, Edna. Oh, think of the children! Remember them!” (Chopin 146).

With the loss of her friend and the words weighing on her mind, Doctor Mandalet walked her home, advising her to seek help. She returns home to an empty house and only a note from Robert, saying only, “‘I love you. Good-by- because I love you'” (Chopin 148).

Resolution

In the final pages of the book, Edna Pontellier returned to Grand Isle, the location where her journey had began, and where it would end. With the weight of the world on her shoulders, a husband she did not love, children she did not wish to raise, the reputation from an emotionless affair, the death of one of her closest friends, the loss of the man she truly loved, and the societal constructs that forced her into this position and were ultimately inescapable, Edna submerged herself in the ocean. She took her final swim, leaving both the shore and a world of pressure behind, and she allowed her exhausted body to give in to the waves, drowning herself and liberating her spirit for good.