The Awakening
Kate Chopin
first published in 1899
155 pages
And I read the Barnes & Noble Classics edition, which I bought, at Barnes and Noble, of course
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I know The Awakening gets a lot of love, but it left me cold (although, hello? that ending? that was a bit of a shocker , to put it mildly!). It’s not that I can’t appreciate what Chopin was trying to do with Edna, but I didn’t care for the tone (too formal, although that’s totally reflective of the times and Edna’s life), the characters (I wanted Edna to be more of a feminist), or the resolution (which is best described as OMGAYFKM*).
I was expecting a stronger character, and I blame the title for my unrealistic expectations. I thought Edna would awaken into herself, and become a woman who threw off society’s expectations to do her own thing. What I got was a whiny woman who still depended on love for her happiness.
Herland
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
First published in 1915
124 pages
I read the Dover Thrift Edition, which was sent to me by the fantabulous Trisha
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Compared to The Awakening, I loved Herland. Yes, I know, it gets a bad rap for being a bit cheesy, but I loved Gilman’s more casual style (almost chatty at times) and her not so thinly veiled critique of paternalistic societies and male behavior, with a little bit of environmentalism tossed in for good measure (which made me think Gilman was a bit of a radical in more ways than one).
Herland is the story of three men, Terry, Nick and Van (our narrator) who after hearing rumors of an entirely female land, go off in search of what they are convinced will either be heaven, or a place that has to have men somewhere. Boy are they in for a shocker, since this hidden country of women has not a single male. And what’s more, they don’t need them. Terry, in particular, offers a hilarious contrast to the land of independent women. Terry is a “man’s man” and he considers himself god’s gift to women. Not only is he baffled by the women’s lack of fawning, he just doesn’t understand how this society of all women can function (and function phenomenally well) without men.
Perhaps it’s unfair to contrast the subtlety of The Awakening (with it’s all too real society) with the in-your-face feminism of Herland, but I thought it was quite interesting to read them back-to-back. And I know I’m judging poor Edna by my own standards (and as someone who considers marriage and children unnecessary (for me…I don’t mean in general), this is totally unfair, as society tends to look askance at women in Chopin’s era who behaved independent of societal norms), but I can’t help but be disappointed by her and her actions. And in Chopin, for writing a character who “awakened” only because she fell in love (and I’ve got a whole ‘nother set of opinions on this so called love). But Gilman went an opposite directions, and was able to show that women can be self-sufficient without men…even if she did have to create an almost ridiculously utopian society to prove her point. And even if there was that whole marriage thing at the end (although Van admitted the women did it only for the men).
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*Oh My God Are You Fucking Kidding Me. Pardon the French.
YES! You are my favorite reviewer EVEH. This rocks.
I read The Awakening a first time and don’t even remember my reactions which probably says it didn’t make much of an impression. But then I read it again a few years ago, while having read so many reviews of ‘this is wonderful’, and ‘this is ground-breaking feminism’ and THAT context made me appreciate it more than just a regular ‘reading’ experience.
Herland was a tad ridiculous, especially the WHY get married? But it was fun, in a way. I am glad I read it before I got to The Yellow Wallpaper but can’t tell why that would make any difference, actually.
Care´s last [type] ..Ulysses and John Adams
Maybe because The Yellow Wallpaper is freakin’ depressing?!?
softdrink´s last [type] ..Centuries of June
Interesting reviews! Glad to see more thoughts on Herland (it was our Year of Feminist Classics project read in April!), and finally a less than positive review of The Awakening! Maybe I can finally try it now! (I’m always scared to be the only dissenter, heh.)
Amy´s last [type] ..Short Story Saturdays- Stories from Europe 2
Yes, read it! It needs more un-love!
softdrink´s last [type] ..Centuries of June
I haven’t read The Awakening yet, but it’s been on my stacks for ages. I do like some of her short fiction, including “The Story of an Hour.” Herland, also on my shelves. I started reading it a few years ago and did find it a bit cheesey, but I’ll have to go back to it and see if I still feel that way.
Andi´s last [type] ..Snively Saturday and Tag Line Switcheroos
I’m pretty sure it’ll be just as cheesy the second time around.
softdrink´s last [type] ..Centuries of June
I love The Awakening, but it has become more meaningful to me every time I have read it. I wish I could remember my reaction the first time I read it.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget my OMGAYFKM reaction.
softdrink´s last [type] ..Centuries of June
I read The Awakening many years ago, and can’t say that I was impressed by it since I can’t actually remember all that went on in the book. I do have a copy of Herland on my shelf and want to get the time to read it because I think it sounds fascinating and well worth my time. I am glad that you enjoyed it too.
zibilee´s last [type] ..Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister — 288 pgs
Like The Awakening, Herland is a pretty quick read.
softdrink´s last [type] ..Centuries of June
I was underwhelmed by The Awakening too! So I should read Herland.
Underwhelmed is the perfdect word. I was expecting greatness.
softdrink´s last [type] ..Centuries of June
I’d probably like Herland more too. I enjoy a conversational tone in a book.
It was funny, it didn’t feel like it was written almost 100 years ago.
I’ve never heard of Herland, but I lurv the title.
The title is ridiculous, just like the book. In a totally good way, of course.
I’m going to have start incorporating OMGAYFKMPF in all of my texting.
I read The Awakening too long ago to recall anything about it. The other one sounds like a utopia — HAHA!
It takes a while too type, though…all those letters. I have to stop and sound it out.
Totally agree about Edna in The Awakening. She really just threw off the convention of being married rather than the need for love and a man. But then I’m not even sure she really “threw off” any conventions because nothing she did seemed to be intentional, it all just sort of happened.
Lisa´s last [type] ..48 Hour Book Challenge – The End
Exactly! I wanted more thought from her.
Ahaha, I love your reaction to the end of The Awakening. I really liked it the second time around (not so much the first time), but I can definitely see where you’re coming from.
She´s last [type] ..Possession – AS Byatt
I’m a lover of The Awakening, but totally get where you’re coming from. I think the formal tone kept me in the time period when it was written, which I think is the only way you could enjoy this one (did I say only way? what do I know?!).
stacybuckeye´s last [type] ..First & Last Quiz
I have never been able to recommend The Awakening because of that ending. OMGAYFKM indeed!
bybee´s last [type] ..The Book I Love Is On That Train And Gone
I admit, I adore the ending of The Awakening and think it fits perfectly with the title. Of course, I read it while I was a young mother being smothered as a stay at home mom for the first time, feeling like I was drowning myself by all the expectations and assumptions about myself as a human being. I nearly cried the entire time through The Awakening. The second time I read it, it wasn’t as powerful, but I wasn’t in quite the same position anymore, and that makes me wonder if it might just be dependent on who you are when you read. I thought of the end as the ultimate triumph…
I’ve never read The Awakening, but definitely have it on my list. Am I the only person who’s never heard of Herland? I’ll have to look into it!
Wallace´s last [type] ..Summer Reads to Sink Your Teeth Into
I remember liking the Awakening — but I read it in college a hundred years ago. I haven’t read Herland — at least I don’t remember the story line, and I doubt I would have forgotten that plot.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Thursday Tea- Seeing a Large Cat by Elizabeth Peters
I like THE AWAKENING, but more because of its ridiculousness than despite it
Ah ha ha! I had the same reaction to The Awakening. I do like Chopin’s short stories, though. At least you don’t feel like you’ve spent too much time reading to be robbed by the ending.
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