The Awakening

Edna Pontellier's journey of self-discovery unfolds in the conservative Creole South of the late 19th century, where she grapples with the constraints of marriage and societal expectations. Her summer affair with a younger man ignites a quest for independence, prompting her to send her children away and seek a life of passion and autonomy. However, her defiance against societal norms leads to tragic consequences, reflecting the era's resistance to women’s liberation. This modernist work, initially criticized, foreshadows the evolving role of women in society.