The Awakening and the New Woman

Chopin’s The Awakening relates to the theme of the “New Woman.” The novel takes place in a time where women are submissive to men. Their main role is to take care of children and support their husbands. Edna is often upset in the beginning of the novel and the exact reason for this is unclear. She seems unhappy with her life and even admits to feeling disconnected to her children. Edna experiences a meaningful moment when she conquers her fear of swimming in chapter ten. “That night she was light the little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who of a sudden realizes it powers, and walks for the first time alone, boldly and with over-confidence,” (27). The narrator goes on to say that, “she wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before,” (27). I thought this passage was very relatable to the previous class discussion on the “New Woman.” When Edna swims out into the ocean alone, it symbolizes her desire to break free and embrace independence in life. This experience seems to help Edna finally realize that she has the power to stand on her own feet without her husband. This passage might be foreshadowing a women's independence movement started by Edna with the line, “where no woman had swum before.”