Lack of IndependenceDuring the late 19th century, at the time of the protagonist Edna Pontellier, a woman's place in society was limited to caring for her children and submitting to her husband. Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening, chronicles the frustrations and success in a woman's life as she attempts to cope with these rigid cultural demands. Supports and encourages feminism as a way for women to gain freedom, financial independence and individual identity. Challenging the stereotype of the Victorian woman, Edna Pontellier combats the pressures of 1899 to be a devoted housewife who submits to her husband. In the society in which Creole women lived, they were suited to only be a wife and mother. In the Awakening, Victorian Creole women were expected to be loving mothers and wives dedicated to making those they loved happy. During that time in Louisiana, women were the property of their husbands and, once married, were expected to be a devoted and dutiful wife. In the book, Adele Ratignolle is the perfect Creole woman. Kate Chopin never indicates that Adele has any other interests or passions besides being a housewife. Adele idolizes her children and her husband, centers her life on caring for them and fulfilling her domestic duties at home. This was what was expected of women during that time. Even though Adele seems correct, she also portrays Creole ways. His self-image was based on the material and his appearance; she relies completely on her beauty and ability to attract people with charm: “There was nothing subtle or hidden about her charm; her beauty was all there, blazing and evident” (Chopin, 17). Mademoiselle Reisz was the opposite of Adele, she was a person who followed her own desires and... middle of paper... decides to drown herself in the ocean. As she swims further and further out into the ocean she thinks "of Leonce and the children. They were part of her life. But they didn't need to think that they could possess her, body and soul" (Chopin 114). No matter what she is capable of, Edna believes that society simply cannot accept her new "awakened" state. Society was the strongest force that attempted to mold Edna Pontellier into the woman who was "acceptable" in society, but through her suicide, Edna finally manages to escape this life of control. Leonce and society owned her soul, telling her to be submissive, to take care of the house, to adore her children, and to keep up appearances, but it was her sons, Raoul and Etienne, who imprisoned her body, constantly reminding her of the torture of motherhood. It was her desire for individuality and freedom that led to her death