A review just on The Awakening. I haven’t yet read the short stories.

I’ve been assigned this work twice now, and each time I’ve read it, I’ve loved it and gotten more out of it. It’s always incredible to me when a work from 100+ years ago still resonates so deeply. I hate how much I can empathize with Edna, but I appreciate having her as a character I can look to for comfort, almost, or maybe to feel seen and understood.

However, I can’t and won’t ignore how this narrative and other feminist narratives of this time period have huge issue regarding race and eugenics. Those topics need greater recognition and acknowledgement when early feminist media is discussed. It’s awful to think that these white women were begging for freedom and rights, yet would step on black women, poor women, disabled women, etc. to get where they wanted to be. 

Both of these points of view can exist simultaneously, people!

I had to read the awakening for my English literature course but it was already enough for me. I don't want to go any further in this book. Maybe the other short stories are better but the awakening didn't give me the want to read more of Kate Chopin's work.

I didn't like the cheating plot. Edna wanted to be free but she wasn't free. She was captive of her own desire and feelings for Robert. Cheating didn't let her be more free. It's sad that the only way she had to be really free was to die.

it's a 2/5 for me.