The Awakening and Selected Short Stories

The story features Edna Pontellier, a wife and mother who defies the expectations of her conventional Creole society by pursuing her own desires and rejecting traditional roles. This bold portrayal of female autonomy and self-discovery shocked readers upon its release in 1899, leading to significant scandal for the author, Kate Chopin. The controversy surrounding the book deeply affected Chopin, resulting in her silence as a writer during the final five years of her life.