The Awakening – Kate Chopin

"She began to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her."

Edna Pontellier, a wife and mother in 19th-century New Orleans, feels stifled by her domestic role. A summer romance awakens her desire for independence and sexual freedom. She begins to paint, neglects her social duties, and moves into her own home, but finds that society has no place for a woman who rejects her traditional destiny.

Kate Chopin's novel was condemned as immoral when published. Today, it is recognized as a landmark of early feminism, portraying a woman's struggle for self-discovery with psychological depth and lyrical beauty.