Blog Post 9: The Awakening/Sexuality TEAM WHY

This week’s post is going to be concerning the similarities between the theme of “sexuality” and the text “The Awakening.” We would first like to concentrate of the meaning of the theme sexuality. Sexuality had become a popular trend in the 19^th century and was starting to make its appearance in many texts. In The Awakening this theme occurs quite frequently and is centered on the main character Edna. It starts out with her being sexually frustrated with her significant other Leonce because of his busy work schedule. This frustration turns into her trying to find her independence, emotional and sexual self. It then leads into an emotional attachment with a man named Robert and after many encounters with each other she finally starts to get the satisfaction she has been looking for. However, once he leaves the picture for a while it leads into her needing to find her sexual satisfaction elsewhere. It once again appears when she starts an affair in her hometown city with a man named Alcee Arobin. This relationship was purely for her sexual satisfaction, nothing else. It’s clear to see that through this novel already that sexuality is one of the main themes because of all the decisions that the main character is making. It doesn’t stop just there she finally at the end of it all realizes that in her sexual and emotional decisions that she was selfish. She forgot about her past life which included a whole family. In this guilty state of mind she goes back to the place where she first felt these sexual sensations. (Grand Isle the location where she met Robert) She decided to give herself away to it and commits suicide by swimming away in the ocean. This theme of sexuality took over her life and ended up causing the end of it. Beyond just this text, there have also been many texts that have been centered on this theme. In the novel “The Library Illustrative of Social Progress” it contains much content that is concerning lust, emotions and of course sexual encounters; it has even been related to the modernized popular “50 Shades of Grey.” This is an example of how sexuality has developed over time from being a new theme in writing into a common occurrence with positive reviews. Sexuality overtime has become a more comfortable topic and writing style. Kate Chopin the author of “The Awakening” had received scrutiny for the text, however as we can see now it was a very good novel which is now being taught at the college level. It’s a theme that should be more looked into and should be looked for in all types of novels. There is almost a guarantee that you will find it in some shape or form.