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extra = english 531: literary criticism

spring 2009

Dr. Cornis-Pope

 

Below is the abstract for the final paper about "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin.
To read the online version, go to: eng 531 site
Download the file: chopin.doc | chopin.pdf

 

Lulú De Panbehchi
Eng. 531 Literary Criticism
Dr. Cornis-Pope
Edna Flirting With Chance: A

 

Feminist and Deconstructionist Interpretation of Chopin's The Awakening

 

     For our final paper, we had to use two different approaches to analyze the novel "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. I begun with the focus on the scene where Edna and Adèle discuss sacrificing themselves for their children. Edna says, "I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself.” The first part of the argument sounds reasonable and conventional, or appropriate for a mother. However, the last part of this phrase, “but I wouldn't give myself” is not congruent with the first part; it makes me think about Edna's death, “was it on purpose or an accident?” and “did she love Robert or her children?” I aimed to answer these questions from the feminist and deconstructionist perspectives. I titled the paper, Edna Flirting With Chance: A Feminist and Deconstructionist Interpretation of Chopin's The Awakening.