The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, is a unique novel that shows the reader a woman that comes to her senses and grasps reality. Throughout the whole story the main character, Edna Pontellier, comes and goes between her home in New Orleans and her summer home in Grand Isle. By using these different settings Chopin represents Edna's conflict and the meaning of her work. The author also used foreshadowing, situational irony, and symbolism to make the novel more understanding and interesting.
             Grand Isle was Edna's summer home. Edna's home in Grand Isle is like a luxury resort while her home in New Orleans is more like a "down to earth" dwelling. New Orleans seems to be dull while Grand Isle is full of cheerfulness. Almost everyday in Grand Isle Edna would go down to the beach and relax, but in New Orleans she always seemed to be restricted to solitude in her depressing antique-like home.
             Edna didn't really get pleasure from her living style, and that eventually lead her husband to call a doctor. This is also where Edna Pontellier defined The Awakening; "I don't want anything but my own way. That is wanting a good deal, of course, when you have to trample upon the lives, the hearts, the prejudices of others - but no matter..." She also begins to realize that she can play roles other than wife and mother.
             Throughout the novel Edna took many steps to increase her independence. She sent her children away, she refused to stay home on Tuesday (social convention was on Tuesday), and she attended many races and parties. Unfortunately, her independence proved to be her downfall.
             Edna stayed married because divorce was unheard of in those days. But, Robert refuses to consummate his love for Edna because he cannot stop thinking of her as the possession of another man. No matter how much Edna exceeds her social life, she was held down by the force of others, regardless of what she wanted. In today's world divo...