The Psychological Conflict And Perplexities Of Edna In The Awakening

The Awakening is Kate Chopin's masterpiece. It describes a married young woman named Edna who rejects the traditional role of mother woman and pursues personal freedom and independence. This thesis focuses on a study of the conflict, perplexities and awareness of Edna's selfhood awakening from a feminist point of view. This thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter one introduces Kate Chopin and The Awakening. Chapter two presents feminism and its background. Chapter three focuses on the conflict in social roles. Chapter four discusses Edna's perplexities in pursuing her way of life. Chapter five is devoted to exploring the three steps of Edna's awakening. Chapter six is conclusion. By the analysis of Edna's story, this thesis intends to enhance people's further understanding of love and passion, marriage and independence, freedom and restraints in The Awakening, and finally to draw people's attention to today's sexual discrimination as the conflict and perplexities still exist paradoxically between women's free inner world and restraints from the outside society. Meanwhile this thesis points out that without real independence and freedom, women cannot live a life of their own, while without "real awakening" of the whole human race, women cannot achieve their real freedom.