My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kate Chopin is one of my favorite authors of short stories, so I wanted to read one of her novels. Chopin had me with her opening words, pulling me into the late nineteenth century Louisiana setting. The story revolves around Edna Pontellier, a woman who, by the standards of the time, appears to have it all: a devoted, wealthy husband and two young boys. The family spends summers at a beach cottage and the rest of the year in a palatial New Orleans home. As the title suggests, Edna slowly becomes aware of the web of social conventions that imprison her and demand that she exist only in the service of others (primarily her husband and children). She chafes and rebels, in increasingly scandalous ways, culminating in a poignant and satisfying ending.
It was a quick read, and certainly worth re-reading. (I reread the first chapter immediately upon finishing the book and found much to admire in how it sets up the eventual conclusion.) The primary theme is a bit dated, and is delivered bluntly at times, but there is still much to think about. I particularly enjoyed how Chopin highlights the tension between the mindless emptiness of strict social conformity and the potential selfishness of resistance. Edna is compared to a child on more than one occasion as her actions become increasingly self-centered: like a child, she is not considering the impact of her actions on those around her. This question of how to harmonize your duty to yourself with your duty to others is, of course, as relevant today as it was in 1899—relaxing gender expectations cannot magically resolve this for us.
Ultimately, although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I was not as impressed with Chopin’s craftsmanship here as I have been with many of her short stories. If you’ve never read any Chopin, she can pack a powerful punch with very few words. Check out “The Story of an Hour” and “Doctor Chevalier’s Lie” for two great examples.
