Self Sacrifice

"The Awakening" by Kate Chopin tells the story of a woman trying to break free of her unsatisfying lifestyle. Several of the characters in the novel are confronted with change or new ideas as a result. Chopin creates several moral decisions for the reader to experience also. Marriage, infidelity, and sexual passion are all themes presented in Chopin's novel. Marriage is a theme throughout the novel. Edna Pontellier and her husband are not the ideal …

…are very much in love. Robert loves and respects Edna so much that he leaves, trying to escape ruining her reputation and her family. After Robert leaves, Edna finds another man to satisfy her. She and Alcee Arobin begin sleeping with each other, although neither cares about the other. Edna seems to use Alcee as a substitute for Robert. Alcee just uses Edna for sex. They both use each other for their own selfish pleasures.