The Awakening

Kate Chopin’s novel of Edna Pontellier, the wife of a New Orleans businessman, who on a summer holiday on Grand Isle begins to question the life expected of her as a wife and mother.

Start reading39 chapters, about 50,000 words

Famous quotes

• Looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage.

  Chapter IIn context

  • Marriage
  • Women

• The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation.

  Chapter VIIn context

  • Nature

• She was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world.

  Chapter XIXIn context

  • Character

• The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth.

  Chapter XXVIIIn context

  • Courage
  • Freedom

Contents

1. Chapter I
2. Chapter II
3. Chapter III
4. Chapter IV
5. Chapter V
6. Chapter VI
7. Chapter VII
8. Chapter VIII
9. Chapter IX
10. Chapter X
11. Chapter XI
12. Chapter XII
13. Chapter XIII
14. Chapter XIV
15. Chapter XV
16. Chapter XVI
17. Chapter XVII
18. Chapter XVIII
19. Chapter XIX
20. Chapter XX
21. Chapter XXI
22. Chapter XXII
23. Chapter XXIII
24. Chapter XXIV
25. Chapter XXV
26. Chapter XXVI
27. Chapter XXVII
28. Chapter XXVIII
29. Chapter XXIX
30. Chapter XXX
31. Chapter XXXI
32. Chapter XXXII
33. Chapter XXXIII
34. Chapter XXXIV
35. Chapter XXXV
36. Chapter XXXVI
37. Chapter XXXVII
38. Chapter XXXVIII
39. Chapter XXXIX