Awaken

Melissa McMahon

March 4 2009

Journal on Early Chopin

"I would give up the unessential; I would give up my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself. I can't make it more clear; it's only something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me." (571)

With these words from Edna Pontellier to her friend, Adele Ratignolle, we see the beginning transformation of Edna and her subtle realization that she is beginning to think, feel, and cherish herself. (Which was quite shocking for her time.) Shirking away from the "Ratignolle" way of life, Edna bucks the system- stands up to her husband, and does as she pleases. As she falls in love with Robert, her trusted companion, it is almost as if Robert represents freedom- and that is the very thing Edna craves and seeks ravenously.

As I did research on Chopin, I found her to be very much like the character of Edna- strong, opinionated, and yearning to break from her mold. With Chopin's short story, "The Storm," she writes in passionate detail about the affair between Calixta and Alcee, never mincing her words. She describes the act beautifully, but shockingly, (for the time) in depth. That level of description is absent from "The Awakening," even though Edna succumbs to an affair much like Calixta. The reason was because Chopin never tried to have "The Storm" published, only after her death did it see the light of day. Chopin felt limited like Edna- she wrote what was on her mind, but she did have to censor herself to make sure it was published and she could support her family. In truth, I find "The Storm," to be one of her better pieces- and for the very reason it was shunned- because it was unbridled. It was gorgeously free.

Chopin leads us on a path to discovery on the heels of her character Edna. We feel the very things that Edna struggles over, and we encourage her to find herself in the midst of her stifling circumstances. Madame Ratignolle was right when she told Robert that Edna was not "one of them," she wasn't- and that was what made her beautifully flawed and real. Many more woman nowadays can relate to the character of Edna- striving to find an identity outside of their families, housework, and roles. It amazes me how modern Chopin's ideas were- her work can be read and compared to our life now, just as much as it could back then. The issues never change- and I think she knew that. I think Chopin realized that as long as there were humans walking the earth, there would be humans looking for inner freedom, hoping to be awakened.

A biography on Kate Chopin states that: "Artists like Kate Chopin see the truth and help others to see it. Once people are able to recognize the truth, then they can create social reform movements and set out to correct wrongs and injustices." Her message is legendary, and her words transcend time. She was truly a gifted writer, woman, and fighter...one's whose voice wakes us up- and makes us see.