Reflection

When starting this blog I had already assumed that the class would be given prompts for each blog post. I was not expecting it to be as open as it was. Which as a group we liked because we were able to express our own individual thoughts without the limitations that prompts tend to have. Because of this we were able to bring up topics not discussed in class or revisit some in further depth. It also allowed us to read other peoples points of view and they were able to share some perspectives that we had not thought about. Over all making the understanding of what we were learning or reading about in class greater than if we were just reading a repeat of answers to the same prompt. Because there would probably be more or less of the same answers or thoughts.

Writing the blog in a group helped because we all have lives. And by having it in groups we were able to evenly share the work and our opinions. Our group worked very well with communication and understanding that if someone was busy one week that they would pick up the next one. As a whole our group worked out really well and gave each one of us a better friendship and we ended up looking to each other for help with class work. We also all have another class together and it brought us closer in that class as well. The only thing I personally would change about this is working harder to try and figure out how to link everyone's Google account say that way they wouldn't have to email their work to my personal email and I post it to the blog. Not really a big deal however.

I really like this combined with the class presentation as an alternative to taking a final exam, because personally I have really bad test anxiety and tend to learn more when I have homework vs. studying. And I ended up learning more about the class work this way by reading other peoples interpretations vs. studying and taking the exam on my own.

The Awakening

There is no doubt that The Awakening is regarded as a classic piece of literature. Kate Chopin does an amazing job creating this story; however, there is a piece of this story that makes it hard to get behind. That piece is the character of Edna.

With all due respect—Edna sounds like a bitch. I understand that someone could feel a lot of pressure from the presumed social norms, and want to trail braze their own path; however, many of Edna’s behaviors are borderline irresponsible, naive (and in my opinion, pathetic). As a respectable human being you are going to face situations, circumstances, problems, etc. that you would rather not face; however, you push on. You address the problem and you solve it—it is that plain, it is that simple. 

This leads me to my greatest point against the character of Edna—motherhood. How in the world do you, as a human being, carry a newborn for nine months and feel less than nothing for them? That repulses and strikes such a cord in me that it almost makes me want to cheer against this entity. I know the reason why I feel so strongly about this. It is because my own mother has played such a crucial role in my life. Without her there would not be a chance that I am here in college, and there is a good chance I would be getting into trouble. Compounding this sentiment further, I have seen the damaging effects that can arise from a mothers absence. One of my best friends in junior high had a mother who committed suicides. The shock wave of turmoil that that event ravages still haunts my good friend today—nine years later. 

That shock wave did not only affect my friend. It uprooted the life of his father. Lost in a sea of grief he began to drink more, smoke more, and come home at all hours of the night. This reaction isn't unheard of, and because isn't uncommon. I can only feel sympathy for Edna’s husband, Leonce, especially given the reality of becoming a single father.

Edna’s irresponsibility stretches beyond family (one of the most valued facets of life). This leads me to another factor attributing to why I disdain Edna so profoundly, it is because her actions are completely self-absorbed and self-motivated. Again, I understand where Edna could be coming from given the repressive and unfair treatment handed to women of that time; however, two wrongs do not make a right. Therefore, I believe it to be morally detestable that Edna cheats on her husband. Such weakness to resist temptation goes (in my opinion) a long way in coloring the nature of Edna’s character.

In conclusion, Edna’s irresponsible and naive behavior isn't enough to redeem her. Furthermore, I am more confused as to why the label “courage” and “bravery” bestow upon the ideal and practices of Edna.