The function of adultery, contract and female identity in Kate Chopin's 'The Awakening'

The exploration of female identity in Kate Chopin's The Awakening challenges Victorian norms through themes of sexuality, love, and marriage. The narrative focuses on Edna's personal awakening and its implications for understanding feminism and societal roles. Key aspects analyzed include adultery as a transgression against the marriage contract, the concept of contractual relationships, and the broader impact on women's identities in late 19th-century America. The work examines how these elements reflect and critique societal structures and expectations of the time.