Eastman,+Erin


 * 8/25/2011**

I have chose to read a novel by the author, Kate Chopin. The book I am going to read is called, __The Awakening__. I predict that this novel is going to be about how this woman wants to be more than just a wife and a mother. It will probably show the struggle she goes through because of this also.


 * 9/2/2011**

I am currently on page 43 in my book, __The Awakening.__ One of the main characters in this book is, Edna. She is tired of being just a housewife, and wants to break away from this role. She wants to see what life is like outside of being just a mother and a wife. I don't think Edna likes being married at all. I think Edna is going to rebel and leave her husband. She will probably explore and see what else the world has to offer to her.


 * 9/8/2011**

In my book, __The Awakening__, I am now on page 89. "'This is more than folly,' he blurted out. 'I can't permit you to stay out there all night. You must come in the house instantly.'" That is a quote from page 78 of my book. This is an important quote because it shows how Edna's husband, Leonce, tries to tell Edna what to do. She however, was being stubborn and didn't listen. He says this quote because he thinks that since he is going to bed, she should too. Once she refuses to go though, he sits outside with her. I am glad that she stuck up for herself and did what she wanted to do. Its significant because it shows that she is doing what she wants, like she should be doing. I think this book is kind of confusing, but other than that I really like it so far! I felt bad when Edna's husband was criticizing her as a mother. She did what he said, and checked on her kid but now she is starting to do more of what she wants and not just listening to her husband.


 * 9/18/2011**

I am currently on page 142. This book is getting really good, and all coming together. I was right about my predictions of the book, and Edna is rebelling against her husbands wishes and doing what she wants. Some new qualities Enda is showing is independence, acting on her desire to be on her own, and being optimistic about the whole thing. I am happy with my book choice for the most part, however I find it kind of challenging to read and understand. Edna's feelings and thoughts are confusing, because she often says she wants one thing and acts upon something else. Like when she said she loved Robert, and then kissed Alcee.


 * 9/28/2011**

Characters: -Edna: is a young wife and mother in the 1800's who is experiencing difficulty adjusting to society's rules about how her life should be. She see's her life as being, "over" and her role as a wife and mother as dull. She thinks that it is too full of responsibilities, she longs for a life of freedom and romance. She is the protagonist in this book, and it is about her journey of becoming who she really wants to be in her life and in society. -Mademoiselle Reisz: is an older woman who becomes friends with Edna. She understands Enda's wishes for freedom and how she wants to live. Edna sees her as someone who is living the life she strives to live aswell. Throughout her life, Mademoiselle assists Edna in becoming more aware of who she is and who she wants to be. -Robert Lebrun: is Edna's love interest. He and Edna meet on Grade Isle, and she is immediately interested in him because he is a flirt. He also pays a lot of attention to women. Most of the women on the Isle recognize that his flirting is just that, but Edna however thinks he is more interested in her. Eventually he does fall in love with Edna, but is unable to break society's rules and be with her, so he moves away to Mexico. -Adele Ratignolle: is a young woman who represents the ideal 1800's wife and mother. She encourages Edna to become more like her, and to pay attention to her responsibilities as a wife and a mother. However, her background is Creole, which allows her to be very passionate and flirtatious although she wouldn't ever act on those things. This causes conflict with Edna because she wants to follow Adele's actions and not her advice. I think this makes her the antagonist.

Sumamry: This book is about Edna, who is a wife and mother in the 1800's. She is struggling with her identity and wants to break away from her role as a wife and mother. She doesn't like the responsibilities and finds her life dull, and boring. She has very strong desires to have romance and to be a more independent person. During the book, she meets various people who either help her become more self aware or who encourage her to continue to follow societies rules to what her life should be like. One of the people she meets, Mademoiselle Reisz, lives the life she finds very appealing. She encourages her to become more independent and helps her become more self aware. She also meets Adele, who is very passionate, which inspires Edna but Adele would never act on her passionate nature and tries to convince Edna to remain firmly in her role as a wife and mother. On Grand Isle she also meets Robert whom she finds attractive. Although they never have an intimate physical relationship, they eventually fall in love. Edna secretly wishes to have a more intimate relationship with Robert, but he is not able to break society's rules and be with her. This causes him to live Grand Isle and go to Mexico. Edna struggles with this disappointment and sees this as society's rules having more power than her individual desires.

Rating: I rate this book a 3 because I found it challenging to read and hard to understand some of the themes within the book. I kinda of found some of the parts to be boring and to move along slowly which made it more difficult to read at times. I like the idea of the book and what it is about but, since it was kinda slow and difficult to read, it did not always keep me interested. Overall, it is a decent book.

Wiki Reflections: I think that this is a good place to have discussions about our book, and I am glad that we used this as a resource. It's a lot easier typing out this stuff, rather then having to write it! :)