The Awakening (Cliffs Notes)

Rating:
Summary: The Awakening [ABRIDGED]
Review: Although Chopin's masterpiece can be life altering when the complete text is read, I found the abridgement on audio to be quite disappointing. Liza Ross's affectation of Edna Pontellier's journey through her awakening makes Edna seem whimsical and weak. The abridgement makes too many cuts which are essential to understanding Edna's break from her husband and from society's standards at the time of the novella's occurrence. Other characters also seem trite and their actions come across as incomprehensible.

Robert Lebrun is certainly not worthy of Edna's affections throughout the course of the abridgement. He is much more seductive and enticing in the complete story. The same holds true for Madomoiselle Reisz. The two characters are essential to internalizing Edna's plight and understanding her ultimate fate.

I have listened to many audio abridgements. In this case, the lack of story does a disservice to the listener's understanding of Napoleonic Law in Louisiana at the turn of the century. It is easy to listen to this rendering not realizing that Edna and all of her personal effects are actually Leonce's property.

My advice, read the book if you truly want to appreciate the mastery of the work that made Chopin give up writing.

Rating:
Summary: A woman who went against the morals of her time
Review: This book illustrates the passion and desire that is awaken in a twenty-eight year old mother and wife. Edna Pontellier's experiences are so intense that she promises herself they are only the beginning. The book takes place on an exotic and friendly Creole isle. Pontellier feels trapped and bored in her marriage; she yearns for excitement in her life. Once she had found true love, she felt her life had meaning. When Pontellier's lover had gone, she was depressed, but felt glad that she had felt true love, although it didn't last very long. Kate Chopin's book was not accepted when it was first published, because society did not want to read about married women having lovers. Many people thought the book was written in poor taste; it was even banned by libraries. This was Chopin's last book because the criticism, and the harsh comments she received made her stop writing. When she died in 1904, she was denied the recognition she deserved. After her death, many viewed Chopin's book as a representation of women's emancipation. Her book was acclaimed a masterpiece. I highly recommend reading this book because it was captivating and interesting.

Rating:
Summary: This is not feminism
Review: When my friend and I ran across a list of 101 books that were recommended to be read before college, we realized we had only read a small percentage of the books and made a vow to read more. One of the books on the list was "The Awakening," and as we had studied Kate Chopin in school and it was readily available online, we decided to both read it. Both of us had read it by the next day, and we both reached the same conclusion: Chopin's protagonist, Edna, was a selfish woman who was not strong at all, as a truly strong woman would have continued on even after the man she loved left her.

The book is written beautifully, hence the two stars. But Edna is completely unidentifiable. She is twenty-eight, yet she seems to do everything on impulse. Yes, maybe she did rush irrationally into an ultimately loveless marriage -- but her husband is not a monster, so doesn't she at least owe him some consideration? Not to mention her children -- she seems to not have the slightest regard for them, only showing affection in fits and starts.

This book should be read, if only to show what strength is not -- strength is not what Edna does in the end of this story. However, you may find yourself struggling to get through it, as Edna is often very frustrating. In conclusion -- this is NOT feminism. In fact, before reading this story I had immense respect for Kate Chopin, respect gained from reading her short stories. I lost some of that respect after seeing what she apparently believed was the solution for Edna's problems.