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A review by waytoomanybooks
The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A review just on The Awakening. I haven’t yet read the short stories.
I’ve been assigned this work twice now, and each time I’ve read it, I’ve loved it and gotten more out of it. It’s always incredible to me when a work from 100+ years ago still resonates so deeply. I hate how much I can empathize with Edna, but I appreciate having her as a character I can look to for comfort, almost, or maybe to feel seen and understood.
However, I can’t and won’t ignore how this narrative and other feminist narratives of this time period have huge issue regarding race and eugenics. Those topics need greater recognition and acknowledgement when early feminist media is discussed. It’s awful to think that these white women were begging for freedom and rights, yet would step on black women, poor women, disabled women, etc. to get where they wanted to be.
Both of these points of view can exist simultaneously, people!
I’ve been assigned this work twice now, and each time I’ve read it, I’ve loved it and gotten more out of it. It’s always incredible to me when a work from 100+ years ago still resonates so deeply. I hate how much I can empathize with Edna, but I appreciate having her as a character I can look to for comfort, almost, or maybe to feel seen and understood.
However, I can’t and won’t ignore how this narrative and other feminist narratives of this time period have huge issue regarding race and eugenics. Those topics need greater recognition and acknowledgement when early feminist media is discussed. It’s awful to think that these white women were begging for freedom and rights, yet would step on black women, poor women, disabled women, etc. to get where they wanted to be.
Both of these points of view can exist simultaneously, people!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism