The re-understanding of Edna Pontellier's death

Abstract

Kate Chopin's The Awakening is one of the feminist classics in American literary history. Since its publication in 1899, the novel The Awakening has aroused controversy. Among the heated controversies is the female protagonist's death. The previous discussions on the death of Edna Pontellier are either too reductive or absolute.The primary focus of this thesis is to reexamine Edna's death. Darwinism shook the self-importance of man; nineteenth-century feminist discourse evoked feminine independence and self-identity; Nietzsche denounced the validity of God. On the basis of these, this thesis concludes that Edna's death is neither a punishment nor an escape, but a triumph. © 2014 Academy Publisher Manufactured In Finland.