The awakening: personal growth and deathThe awakening is a novel about the growth of a woman who becomes herself; despite the expectations that society has for him. The book follows Edna Pontellier as she struggles to find her identity. Edna knows that she cannot be happy in the role that society has created for her. He didn't believe he could break this pattern due to societal pressure. As a result he ends up taking his own life. However, readers should not sympathize with her for taking her own life. Edna Pontellier was on her way to a revival. Throughout the book she realized that she was unhappy with her position in life. It is clear that she was never completely unaware of it, because her summary of it was a kind of blissful ignorance. Especially in the years of life before her apparent independence, THE READER SEE HOW she was never satisfied with how her life had turned out. For example, she admits that she married Mr. Pontellier more out of convenience than love. EDNA knew he loved her, but she didn't love him. It's not that she didn't know what love was, because she had been infatuated before and believed it was love. She consciously chose to marry Mr. Pontellier even though she did not love him. When she falls in love with Robert she regrets her decision to MARRY Mr. Pontellier. HOWEVER, readers shouldn't sympathize, because she was the one who set his trap. She didn't love her husband when she married him, but NEVER once ADMITS that it was a bad decision. She attributes all the problems in her marriage to the way society has defined the roles of men and women. DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY BLAME, AS ITS OWN. The only other example of married life in the book is the Ratignolle couple, who portray the traditional role of married men and women of the time. Mr. Pontellier also appears to be a typical socialite. Edna, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS NOT A TYPICAL SOCIETY WOMAN. Mr. Pontellier knew this but OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T ALWAYS HAVE IT. This shows CLEARLY in the total lack of constructive communication between the two. If she had been able to communicate with her husband, perhaps they would have been able to resolve THEIR PROBLEMS, WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE Edna MORE SATISFIED WITH HER LIFE.