Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Awakening, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Convention and Individuality
Women’s Rights, Femininity, and Motherhood
Realism and Romanticism
Action and Reflection
Freedom and Emptiness
Summary
Analysis
When he returns from the beach, Pontellier comes to ask his wife to come inside. Edna insists on staying in the hammock, though she usually obeys him in similar situations. He tries to be patient, but becomes annoyed; he stays up drinking and smoking. Finally Edna slips out her reverie and goes to bed.
Edna is learning to act on her impulses instead of obeying the men around her. She begins to translate feeling into action—not for the sake of any higher goal, but to be true to her inner life.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
