Summary
In The Awakening, Kate Chopin tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman who begins to question her role as wife and mother in the restrictive social world of late 19th-century New Orleans. As she awakens to her desires, ambitions, and longing for freedom, Edna challenges the conventions of her time—at great personal cost.
Accompanying this landmark novella are a selection of Chopin’s short stories, each exploring themes of identity, gender, autonomy, and the quiet power of inner life.
With a subtle, lyrical style, Chopin captures the struggles of women navigating societal expectations and personal awakening.