Abstract:Kate Chopin, American female writer, is known as “one of the pioneers of the American feminist literature”. Her works show a typical feminist tendency, which embodies a strong resistance of patriarchy-centered culture. The Awakening is an outstanding representative work, and won Chopin the reputation of “advance writer”. This novel, with its important position in American feminist literature, has successfully placed Chopin among the top writers of the country.

The Awakening is mainly about the story of the heroine Edna, who is unwilling to play the role of a good wife, pursuing freedom. Through depicting Edna’s awakening from sexual awakening to spiritual awareness and to the final giving up her life, Kate Chopin represents her contemporary historical period in which women were awakening to pursue gender equality. 

The paper mainly analyzes the reasons and process of Edna’s self-awakenings, including the awakening of the sense in economic independence, the awakening in spirituality and the awakening in actions. Edna finds her independence and self-identity and she would like to purse her dream at any costs. Her death cannot simply be regarded as a compromise with the conventional rules; but, it is a beginning and rebirth of a new life. 

Key Words:  new woman  selfhood  dilemma  awakening  female consciousness

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

Chapter Two The Reasons for Awakening-3

2.1 The Awakening of the Self-Consciousness of Women in the World-3

2. 2 The Self-Consciousness of the Author-3

Chapter Three Three Aspects of Awakening-5

3.1. Awakening in Economy-5

3.1.1 Awakening in the Sense of Economic Independence-5

3.1.2 Awakening in the Action for Economic Independence-5

3. 2 Awakening in Spirituality-6

3. 2. 1 Enlightened Thought-6

3. 2. 2 Resolute Determinations-7

3. 2. 3 Desires for Solitude-7

3. 2. 4 Eternal Aliveness-7

3.3 Awakening in Action-8

3. 3.1 Learning to Swim-8

3. 3. 2 Learning to Paint-8

3. 3. 3 Gaining Sexual Control on Herself-9

3. 3. 4. Moving into Her Own House-9

Chapter Four Conclusion-10

References-11