The Awakening · Theme
Social Class and Convention
How The Awakening develops Social Class and Convention.
The Creole society of New Orleans and Grand Isle imposes rigid codes of behavior, particularly on women, and Edna's rebellion against these conventions highlights the tension between individual desire and social respectability.
Where it surfaces
- II
The chapter highlights social distinctions through Robert's inability to afford cigars, his modest clerk position, and the Lebruns' reliance on summer rentals to maintain their lifestyle.
- IV
Edna's outsider status among Creoles and her shock at their lack of prudery underscore the cultural and class differences she navigates.
- V
The group's idle afternoon and Robert's accepted role as a devoted attendant reflect the leisure and social norms of the Creole upper class.
- VIII
Adèle's warning highlights the unspoken rules governing Creole society and the dangers of crossing social boundaries.
- Chapter XXIII
The soirée musicale, Mr. Pontellier's disdain for 'bourgeois' entertainment, and the Colonel's military bearing highlight class and social expectations.
- The Dinner Party
The dinner party is a display of wealth and social status, with fine linens, crystal, silver, and diamonds, yet Edna feels a sense of ennui and detachment, hinting at her rebellion against societal expectations.
- XXXII
Edna feels she has descended socially but risen spiritually, challenging class-based expectations.
- Chapter XXXIII
The formal social calls, the discussion of Arobin's character, and the expectations of Edna's behavior reflect the rigid social conventions of Creole society.