Transcending The Conflict Between Life And Death

It's generally considered that The Awakening written by the American woman writer, Kate Chopin (1851-1904) is only a classic feminist novel in the history of American literature. However, more and more critics have found it is also a first-rate one that we can interpret from different perspectives. This thesis tries to rediscover its deep meaning based on the predecessors' investigation.The theme of The Awakening primarily concerns the conflict between life and death. Firstly, the living space for Edna is being narrowed in society as her self-awareness gradually grows and she takes action to pursue independence and freedom step by step. Secondly, Edna has to go into the sea-returns to nature when she can not attain her liberty. Eventually, she enters One World, philosophically transcending the contradiction between life and death.There are similar conceptions embodied in The Awakening such as the physical component of love existing apart from the spiritual one that reminds us of Zhuang Zi's view on the departure of soul from body. The fact that Edna is brave enough to abandon her body is a good illustration of Heideggar's Being-towards-death. Edna's nakedness into the sea echoes both Lao Zhuang's, and Thoreau's ideas on nature and ecofeminism. That is why The Awakening is a philosophically and aesthetically successful novel.Finally, the thesis tries to find out why Chopin's thought has gone far beyond her time and is so close to nature, by application of Edward W. Said's Travelling Theory and analysis of the historical background of her life, her self-generated growth and outer influences.