The Awakening is an 1899 novella depicting one woman’s struggle with societal expectations in her role as a wife and mother. Following this introduction, you’ll find a collection of quotes from The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

This elegantly written novella tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a young Creole woman who craves more than the society-sanctioned role available to her. The theme of marital infidelity from the unique perspective of the woman shocked reviewers and readers alike.

The Awakening was silenced by brutal reviews in newspapers and literary publications from coast to coast. Just a few years after publication, it fell out of print. Chopin was disheartened by its reception and her writings dwindled after its publication. She died unexpectedly in 1905, just in her fifties; The Awakening fell out of print shortly after, followed by her other works, which consisted of several novels and many evocative short stories.

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