Edna Pontellier's The Awakening: A Tragic Heroine?

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A Tragic Heroine? Brent Jacob The Awakening is a novel about Edna Pontellier, a woman in search of independence from her Créole culture. Her quest throughout the novel brought into the light real- life society’s mistreatment and distrust in women. This caused many women at the turn-of-the 20th century to look to Edna as a heroine because she did what many women of the time dreamed of doing; she became independent. However, Edna Pontellier is not a tragic heroine because she does not display the characteristics required; a tragic heroine must possess importance or high rank in society, exhibit extraordinary talents, display a tragic flaw in error/judgement that leads to her downfall, and the heroine must face her downfall with courage and…show more content…
Edna is a female, a wife, and a mother. Women at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century were considered little more than property to their husbands. Very few women had any influence in society, and Edna was not one of them. She was expected to abide by her Créole culture, and obey her husband. She did not have a job, and held no political or other influential offices in society. A tragic heroine must possess importance or high rank in society; Edna does not. The second quality a tragic heroine must exhibit is extraordinary talents; Edna does not. Edna does have talents; she is a very good artist, and learns to swim throughout the novel. However, she is not famous through any of these talents; she is not a distinguished swimmer. Edna is a decent artist, but she paints not because she is exceptionally gifted at it; just as a means to express herself, and as an escape from her everyday…show more content…
This causes one to question, is suicide considered a courageous act, showing dignity? Society does not agree on this issue. Most people would argue that suicide is the most cowardly thing a person can ever do. The reason one can conclude that most people agree suicide is an undignified act is because, out of the six billion people inhabiting the world today, 3.6 billion are of Christian and Islamic religions. These religions, along with Buddhism and Hinduism, which equals another 1.6 billion people, all look down upon suicide as an undignified act, and extremely disrespectful to one’s self. Therefore, these people conclude Edna does not face her downfall with courage and dignity. However, there is also a percentage of people in society, such as many Atheists and nonreligious people, who will argue that suicide is the most dignified and courageous act a person can accomplish. They claim that suicide is the ultimate way for a person to prove they are independent and control their life, because they are the one making the decision to end it. Nevertheless, when a person ends their life, they are quitting. It is ending, it is over, there is no changing one’s mind. They are giving up. Society has never, in it’s entire existence, looked upon a person that quits or gives up with respect. There is nothing courageous in giving up and quitting; Edna gave up. She quit life. Hence, Edna did not

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