ExistentialismExistentialism►human beings are not primarily human beings are not primarily

rational creatures but passionate ones. rational creatures but passionate ones. ►We are not detached observers We are not detached observers ofof the the

world, but actors world, but actors inin the world the world ►““existence precedes essence": we existence precedes essence": we

make ourselves with our decisions, our make ourselves with our decisions, our actions, and our purposes actions, and our purposes

►To follow the herd is to act in "bad To follow the herd is to act in "bad faith," and to limit one’s choices faith," and to limit one’s choices

ExistentialismExistentialism► emphasis on the absurd or extreme emphasis on the absurd or extreme

condition of humanity in an indifferent condition of humanity in an indifferent universe universe

►words such as dread, anguish, nothingness, words such as dread, anguish, nothingness, nausea are a part of the lexiconnausea are a part of the lexicon

►we are condemned to freedom, to we are condemned to freedom, to responsibility, without excuses or alibis. responsibility, without excuses or alibis. Human beings are perpetual projects, and Human beings are perpetual projects, and we must constantly reinvent the image of we must constantly reinvent the image of our humanity. our humanity.

ExistentialismExistentialism►rejects the belief that life has an rejects the belief that life has an

inherent meaning, but instead requires inherent meaning, but instead requires each individual to posit his or her own each individual to posit his or her own subjective values subjective values

11►1. Consider alternative titles for 1. Consider alternative titles for

Clemens's and Chopin's novels: Clemens's and Chopin's novels: The The Awakening of Huckleberry FinnAwakening of Huckleberry Finn and and The Adventures of Edna PontellierThe Adventures of Edna Pontellier. . Comment on the incongruity of each of Comment on the incongruity of each of these alternative titles in terms of the these alternative titles in terms of the novels' designs, themes, and novels' designs, themes, and development of the central character. development of the central character.

22►How does this novel frame the notions How does this novel frame the notions

of freedom and responsibility? of freedom and responsibility?

33►What role do children play in Edna’s What role do children play in Edna’s

life? life?

44►Think about the three main women in Think about the three main women in

the novel: Edna, Adele, and the novel: Edna, Adele, and Mademoiselle Reisz. How are they Mademoiselle Reisz. How are they different and how are they alike? different and how are they alike?

55►Why did Edna return to Grand Isle at Why did Edna return to Grand Isle at

the end of the novel? the end of the novel?

66►Which of the men in the novel do you Which of the men in the novel do you

find most sympathetic? Why? find most sympathetic? Why?

77►Why does Mademoiselle Reisz say that Why does Mademoiselle Reisz say that

it takes courage to be an artist? Do it takes courage to be an artist? Do you agree? Is her opinion rooted in her you agree? Is her opinion rooted in her time and her gender? time and her gender?

88► Imagine Imagine The AwakeningThe Awakening set in today’s set in today’s

American society. How would it be American society. How would it be different? How would it be the same? different? How would it be the same?

99►What role does race and class play in What role does race and class play in

this novel? Does Edna have anything this novel? Does Edna have anything in common with the poor black woman in common with the poor black woman who serves her? who serves her?

1010► Is Edna’s act of suicide at the end of Is Edna’s act of suicide at the end of

the novel an act of bravery or the novel an act of bravery or cowardice? Do you think it was an cowardice? Do you think it was an intentional or premeditated act on her intentional or premeditated act on her part? Why does Chopin leave the part? Why does Chopin leave the answer to this question so vague? answer to this question so vague?

►How would you change the ending (or How would you change the ending (or any part) of Chopin’s novel?any part) of Chopin’s novel?

Sandro Botticelli – Sandro Botticelli – Birth of VenusBirth of VenusHow does this image relate to How does this image relate to

Edna?Edna?

1212►What would a happy marriage look like What would a happy marriage look like

for Edna? Is such a situation possible? for Edna? Is such a situation possible?

1313►Does Does The AwakeningThe Awakening have an example have an example

of true love? Do Robert and Edna of true love? Do Robert and Edna really love each other or are they just really love each other or are they just clinging to a fantasy? Are the young clinging to a fantasy? Are the young lovers on Grand Isle and example of lovers on Grand Isle and example of true love? true love?

1414►To what extent is society to blame for To what extent is society to blame for

Edna’s suicide? Not at all? Totally? Edna’s suicide? Not at all? Totally?

1515►What if the character seeking What if the character seeking

fulfillment was Mr. Pontellier? How fulfillment was Mr. Pontellier? How would the book change? would the book change?

1616► This quote from Chapter Twelve a little This quote from Chapter Twelve a little

scary: "She was blindly following scary: "She was blindly following whatever impulse moved her, as if she whatever impulse moved her, as if she had placed herself in alien hands for had placed herself in alien hands for direction, and freed her soul of direction, and freed her soul of responsibility." Is this Divine Providence responsibility." Is this Divine Providence directing her actions? How did her soul directing her actions? How did her soul suddenly get freed of responsibility? suddenly get freed of responsibility?

► To what extent does Edna’s newly To what extent does Edna’s newly independent identity feel like a dream independent identity feel like a dream that comes crashing to a halt once she that comes crashing to a halt once she returns to Grand Isle?returns to Grand Isle?

1717►What exactly is a "good mother" in What exactly is a "good mother" in

Edna’s society? Why does Edna have Edna’s society? Why does Edna have trouble following that model? trouble following that model?

► Is Edna a good mother by the standards Is Edna a good mother by the standards of her society? By the standards of our of her society? By the standards of our society? society?

►How important is motherhood to Edna? How important is motherhood to Edna? Why did she have children in the first Why did she have children in the first place? place?

1818►Listen to Frederic Chopin’s Prelude #4 Listen to Frederic Chopin’s Prelude #4

and explain how this music moves you and explain how this music moves you (as it did when Mlle. Reisz played it for (as it did when Mlle. Reisz played it for Edna).Edna).

Prelude #4Prelude #4 (in E minor) (in E minor)

Works CitedWorks Cited► Chopin, Kate, Chopin, Kate, The Awakening; A Solitary Soul.The Awakening; A Solitary Soul. New New

York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1992.York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1992.► Kierkegaard, S. Kierkegaard, S. Concluding Unscientific PostscriptConcluding Unscientific Postscript. .

Tr. David F. Swenson and Walter Lowrie. Princeton: Tr. David F. Swenson and Walter Lowrie. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 1997.Princeton University Press. 1997.

► Skaggs, Peggy, Skaggs, Peggy, Kate Chopin.Kate Chopin. Massachusetts: Massachusetts: Twayne Publishers, 1985.Twayne Publishers, 1985.

► Toth, Emily, (ed.) Toth, Emily, (ed.) A Vocation and a Voice.A Vocation and a Voice. New York: New York: Penguin Publishers, 1991.Penguin Publishers, 1991.

► Toth, Emily and Per Seyersted, Toth, Emily and Per Seyersted, Kate Chopin's Kate Chopin's Private Papers.Private Papers. Indiana: Indiana University Press, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 1995.1995.