Kate Chopin's The Awakening depicts the difficulties a woman at the turn of the twentieth century must face when she becomes unsatisfied with her existence. Edna Pontellier, the wife of an affluent Creole businessman, unexpectedly becomes aware of a sense of discontent in many aspects of her life, which begins to plague her. During her struggle for renewal, her complex, and often problematic, sexual awakening is accompanied by the presence of several other transformations which further complicate her plight. The evolution of Edna's spirit and demeanor is fueled by many changes, including the emergence of her artistic nature, the realization of her unusual attitude towards her children, and the deterioration of her social inhibitions.
The awakening of Mrs. Pontellier's sexual disposition causes the rousing of many feelings, previously foreign to her; fortunately, her recent pursuit of art provides an outlet for these unsettling emotions. Though it is undertaken as a mere hobby, "she sometimes [dabbling] with [it] in an unprofessional way," Edna's appreciation for drawing escalates when it begins to provide her with "satisfaction of a kind which no other employment afforded her" (12). Edna presents some sketches to her friend, Madame Ratignolle, claiming that she "ought to work again" because she, "[feels] as if [she] wanted to do something" (59). Thus, Pontellier pursues drawing as a means to pass the time. She gains fulfillment from the act itself, not striving towards any particular accomplishment, and often dissatisfied with the end product (79). However, when the family returns home from their summer retreat, the pastime appears to distract Edna from what her husband would consider her obligations, causing him to reproach her: "It seems to me the utmost folly for a woman to spend in an atelier days which would be better employed contriving the comfort of her family" (61).
