The Awakening (1899) is a short but intensely rich novel, as dense and brilliant as the French Impressionist paintings which were put on exhibition for the first time a few decades before its publication. Like those painthags, the novel scandalized its contemporary audiences. Within a few years, however, the book was all but for gotten. Fortunately, it was rescued from oblivion seventy years later and has emerged triumphantly as one of the most celebrated portraits of a lady in American literature.

INTRODUCTION

CHRONOLOGY OF KATE CHOPIN’S LIFE AND WORK

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF The Awakening and Selected Stories of Kate Chopin

THE AWAKENING

BEYOND THE BAYOU

MA’AME PELAGIE

DESIREE’S BABY

A RESPECTABLE WOMAN

THE Kiss

A PAIR OF SILK STOCKINGS

THE LOCKET

A REFLECTION

AT THE’CADIAN BALL

THE STORM: A SEQUEL TO "AT THE’CADIAN BALL"

NOTES

INTERPRETIVE NOTES

CRITICAL EXCERPTS

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE

INTERESTED READER