The Awakening: An Analysis

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discoveries about the society in which she lives and awakens to her own potential for passion, desire, and love but “…she reserves her greatest passion for a figure of pure fantasy…”(Wolff 236). Her husband cannot fulfill these potentials “She grew fond of her husband…” but “…no trace of passion…colored her affection”(37). Edna also realizes that Creole society, as represented by both Madame Reisz and Adele, allows men absolute freedom to come and to go as they please, “…perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not.”(21) While decreeing that women are little more than a possession of their husbands. Capitulation to this system - as in the case of Madame Reisz - or moderate rebellion - as in the case of Adele - are both options available to Edna; either will "work," largely because this woman has come to the realization that neither submission nor rebellion will improve her life in any meaningful or substantial or lasting manner. Edna's identity crisis is ...

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