ABSTRACT

The Awakening (1899) is written by American female writer Kate Chopin. The heroine Edna is a wife and mother but unsatisfied with marriage. With the desire for independence and freedom, she leaves home and eventually goes to the sea to defend her independent female consciousness. This thesis tries to analyze connections between music and different changes of her consciousness and behaviors from the perspective of musical narrative, suggesting that every time her awakening cannot be separated from catalysis of music, and finding that Edna’s character is expressed vividly by musical narrative. However, this paper argues that her behaviors of abandoning family and children and violating morals are not worth advocating, aiming to provide some references for modern women to live healthily.

Keywords: Kate Chopin; The Awakening; musical narrative; awakening

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 The Introduction of Kate Chopin-1

1.2 The Background of The Awakening-2

Chapter Two LITERATUREREVIEW-4

2.1 Previous Studies on The Awakening at Home and Abroad-4

2.2 Significance of This Thesis on The Awakening-5

2.3 Structure of the Thesis-5

Chapter Three MUSICAL NARRATIVE IN THE AWAKENING-6

3.1 The Connotation of Musical Narrative-6

3.2 The Functions of Musical Narrative-7

3.2.1 Promotion of Plots in The Awakening-7

3.2.2 Presentation of Process of Edna’s Awakening-8

3.2.2.1 The First Awakening of Heroine-9

3.2.2.2 The Second Awakening of Heroine-10

3.2.2.3 The Third Awakening of Heroine-12

3.2.3 Expression of Character in The Awakening-12

Chapter Four CONCLUSION-15

WORKS CITED-16