Local color
- What features make The Awakening a "local color" story?
- What customs and beliefs of Edna Pontellier's society are significant in relation to her psychological development?
- What attitudes and tendencies in the Creole characters does Edna have trouble adjusting to?
- Why did Edna marry Leonce? Is he the model husband?
- What incidents in the novel reveal that he may not be a good husband for Edna?
- How do Mlle. Reisz and Mme. Ratignolle function in relation to Edna and the novel's view of women as mothers and artists?
- What kind of mother is Edna? What kind of artist is she?
- How are the background characters such as the young lovers and the lady in black at the shore, significant in Edna's story?
- In detail, explain how the flashbacks to Edna's past function. How does her father compare to the other men in her life?
- How does the view of romantic love develop in the course of the novel? What is the doctor's view of marriage and childbearing?
- Can you think of an emotional attachment and/or a romantic obsession you have studied in a previous work? How does that incident or character compare with Edna's emotional and romantic relationships?
- What are the main images and symbols in the novel?
- Why does Edna get involved with Alcee Arobin?
- Why do you suppose critics were outraged at this novel in 1899, saying it committed "unutterable crimes against polite society" and should be labeled "poison" to protect "moral babes"?
- What is your reaction to the end of the novel? Do you agree or disagree with the reasons for Edna's final action?
