In Kate Chopin's classic novel, The Awakening, Edna Pontellier was a woman who felt trapped and burdened by her life. She is unable to express herself or free herself from the prison that life had placed her in. She ultimately freed herself from her prison by committing suicide. Edna's prison was not one made of walls and metal bars. It was one made of responsibilities and burdens. These burdens and responsibilities are similar to the ones that people who seek death share. When these responsibilities and burdens become too heavy to bear, people seek suicide as the only escape. There are many reasons why people feel suicide is the only option available. These reasons can range from an unhappy marriage to children or even stress and society. The list of reasons why people commit suicide is nearly endless and can be a combination of any of the reasons. Edna Pontellier could not bare the burden and responsibilities that her marriage, children, society had placed on her, which would ultimately cause her to take her own life.
In all forms of satire, marriage is considered to be one of the worst possible outcomes that can happen to anyone being second only to death itself. Spouses are commonly referred to as "the old ball and chain" and are thus treated accordingly as this superfluous weight that drags us all down into our own peril. .
Generally speaking, marriage is but the beginning of an extended trek through the game of life that ends happily, but few rarely see the game to its completion and instead find simple ways to deal with the troubles that come coupled with a marriage. Troubles such as money, living quarters, happiness, a job, and children are all common area that marriage usually is connected with and if any one of those guidelines is not satisfied, then all the other guidelines are ruined. .
Marriage is not just about the material possessions listed above. It is also about love and caring, but for some it's difficult to carry a strong emotion such as love when you can barely keep a roof over your head while working eighteen hours a day.
