She was living her inactive and dull life as a housewife until she receives the news of her husband's death "in broken sentences" and "veiled hints" by her sister Josephine (Mays 476). ... Mallard is known in the beginning of the story only as a wife, not as a person. ... It is appreciated in the story that Louise was feeling oppressed by her role as a housewife and depressed about not being able to be herself and do what she desires. ... Kate Chopin placed that event in the story to make an understanding to the reader how many women were oppressed by marriage in the 1...

• Word Count: 2447
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography

Kate Chopin's novel, "The Awakening," focuses on Edna Pontellier, a woman struggling to find her true self while committing herself fully to being a wife and mother. ... Leonce Pontellier wants his wife to be one of the "ministering angels," (Chopin 9) who "idolized their children" (Chopin 9) and "worshiped their husbands" (Chopin 9). ... Edna begins to ponder whether she should be defined as a mother and wife, or as a woman who is bold enough to create a personal definition for her life. ... "This new found sense of self helps wake her out of a dream - a grotesque, impossible dream b...

• Word Count: 2199
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School