This short novel has touched a nerve of many readers since it came back to public attention in the 1970s (yes, it took that long). It seems to speak to our time as much as it disturbed readers in 1899. Threaded with incredibly sensuous imagery and with its provocative ending, it invites multiple re-readings and a wealth of interpretations. Neal Wyatt, a former VCU graduate student, wrote an extensive study hypertext of the novel in 1995, much of which has been converted here for you to explore. In addition, there are excellent Web resources, as well as short stories written by Chopin. By reading these materials, you will begin to have some idea of the rich complexity of the book, so much that you might also like to look at some of the published criticism (see bibliographies). Bon voyage!

Kate Chopin and Her Times:
Kate Chopin's Life (Wyatt)
The Time and Places of The Awakening (Wyatt)
Literary Movements Relevant to The Awakening (Wyatt)
"A Woman Far Ahead of Her Time." (Ann Bail Howard)
Biography by Jodie LeBlanc 

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Major Motifs in The Awakening:
Myths and Fairy Tales Related to the Novel (Wyatt)
Symbols in The Awakening (Wyatt)
Interpretations of the Ending (Wyatt) 

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Recordings: Here is a 2+ minute MIDI file of Chopin's Preludes, Op. 28 (such as those played by Mlle. Reisz) Requires Realtime.
Here are the two preludes that she plays--Prelude #4 and Prelude #7 (Realplayer). All 24 Chopin Preludes are here.

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Student Papers and Discussion:
Essays from Honors English Class, Milford High School, Milford MA (1999)
CONNECT Discussion, Eng 384, Fall 1996 (VCU)
Essay by Jen Thompson
Romanticism in The Awakening by Megan Nickerson 

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Other Works by Chopin
Study hypertext of "The Story of an Hour" (Woodlief)
"A Respectable Woman"

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Bibliography of Criticism about The Awakening
Annotated Bibliography (Wyatt)

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Other Major Web Sites on Kate Chopin

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