The Awakening Deconstruction

When understanding a work of literature, most readers would take the work at its face value, non looking Into other possible meanings, while a deconstructionist would take apart a text and find many other possible meanings. In The Awakening, Kate Chopin tells the story of Edna Pointillist, who feels that society is constricting and that she needs to be ease of the norms set by society. She decides to leave her responsibilities and postdate a life of freedom, which she at first thinks is exactly what she wants. She abandons her life as a housewife and perplex to follow a path that leads to her experience destruction.By freeing herself from what she thought was an unhappy life, Edna finds herself more dejected, which leads her to her death. She thinks the only behavior to be truly free from the oppressiveness of society would be to die, which would release her of all her worries. The point Chopin was difficult to convey in The Awakening is that society is oppressive and forces w omen to stay in their place otherwise their disposition would be in Jeopardy. The idea falls apart in that no one ever tries to interference Edna from her process of modify. Not one person forces her to do her housework or take care of her children. It Is nevertheless suggested that she does so. Even though Edna receives specimens and scolding from her husband to be a founder mother and to take better care of the family, she ignores them, and Lonce thinks there is something mentally wrong with her (86). When Deans father comes to visit her, he scolds Lonce for being too lenient and not asserting his authority instead of realizing that Edna was asserting her birth independence (107). The idea of an oppressive society disintegrates through this example.Edna believes that society Is constricting her, when there Isnt anyone who Is limiting her actions. Lonce, on finding out that Edna has moved into a smaller house, only disapproves because he fears his reputation would be injured because he believes others would think he is having financial difficulties (137). This shows that Lonce isnt particularly overturned rough Deans reputation, only what she could be doing to his reputation. Therefore, Edna isnt necessarily being burdened by the norms of society she is already partially free to express herself.Doctor Mandated, on speaking with Lonce concerning Deans condition, asks If Edna has been associating with pseudo-Intellectual women, which Lonce reports that she hasnt (99). Mademoiselle plague could be considered an intellectual woman, being that she often gives Edna advice, whom is also Deans confidant. Mademoiselle Raise also warns Edna by utter her The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must(prenominal) have pissed wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth (122).So, even the woman whom Edna turns to for guidance tells her she must be strong to break through societi es clutches, or she will fall, which foreshadows Deans death. Chopping concept is void because Edna continues to challenge authority. passim the story, Deans friends and relatives worry for her reputation, though she seems to not care about it. The society that Chopin displays deeply considers the role of women and how it forces women to conform, otherwise jeopardizing their reputation.This nous crumbles when Edna throws a house party her fathers health, praising him for the daughter whom he invented (129). Deans reputation has obviously not been moved(p) by her actions because of the many people who showed up to her party. They didnt seem to Judge her for inviting Robin either. When Adeel visits Edna, she tells her that she worries for the impulsive and heedless nature of her actions, but the two seem to still be close friends despite her actions (141). Her reputation is not affected by her so-called impulsive and reckless nature.Also, earlier in her process of awakening, Lonce scolds Edna for being out on a Tuesday, which is Deans reception day, and not leaving an cut for her absence (77). Edna finds that while she was out, there had been many callers, proving that her reputation is not affected. Lonce is only worried about his own reputation throughout the novel. Adeel tells Edna to think of the children after she gives birth to a child, warning Edna that her endeavors could also hurt the reputations of her children (164).It seems that Deans reputation is not significant in the views of others, therefore diminishing Chopping notion that not conforming to society standards can ruin a womans reputation. Although, Chopin intended the work to say that Edna is constricted by society standards and feels that she can free herself by not conforming, Edna feels that society is oppressive and that she cant do things on her own without becoming independent and freeing herself of the responsibilities set for her.In actuality, the work said that society isnt as opp ressive as Edna makes it seem, through her constant dismissal of its nature. Throughout the story, not one person tries to stop Edna in prosecute her ideas of freedom and independence. Though some people warn her of the consequences of her actions, they do not demand her to stop. This shows that society is not totally oppressive, even though Edna may believe so.