Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle is an island just off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, and a short distance from New Orleans. It is the location in which The Awakening both began and concluded.
The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, along with many of the other major characters, spent their summers at a cottage retreat on Grand Isle. As such, the first third or so of the novel took place on Grand Isle during the summer.
In the final chapter, the scene shifted back to Grand Isle with the beginning of summer.
New Orleans, Louisiana
The Pontellier’s main residence was located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Edna and Léonce owned a charming, double cottage on Esplanade Street (Chopin 65). However, as the novel progressed, and Edna pursued her desire for independence, she rented a small house nearby where she could live by herself, which came to be known as “The Pigeon House.”
Time Period
The Awakening took place over the course of one year, from summer to summer. While the specific date was never identified, the time period was roughly the late 1800’s, specifically the 1880’s or 1890’s.
The Awakening by Kate Chopin 