Kate Chopin: Enhanced...Students Discuss The Awakening

STUDENTS DISCUSS THE AWAKENING
	*Transcript*
STUDENTS	She knows that she's got the trappings of what she wants, but does not really have what she wants, no. That's why she kills herself. She didn't know how to get through. She sees no way out.
NARRATOR	Students at Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana are among tens of thousands of high school and college students throughout the nation who are reading Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening. They're analyzing every page of the story of the young wife and mother who is not fulfilled by those roles in her life. She wants more. Edna Pontellier leaves the marriage…but still struggles with who she is as an individual. Teachers say the novel gives students, especially females a very valuable lesson at the time when they need it most.
SOUNDBITE	Melody Thibodaux/Sacred Heart Teacher Any time we try to lock people into a certain kind of life choice that may not suit that person, we are almost condemning that person to a really bad outcome.
NARRATOR	Teachers say the novel also shows students the power of good writing.
SOUNDBITE	Melody Thibodaux There is the musicality, the beautiful language, the imagery, the beautiful discussion of things that are currently occurring in nature, and making the words sound like the spoken music.
NARRATOR	Students say, the writer, Kate Chopin has provided them with a clear lesson on the struggles Edna endured with her husband, Leonce, and the struggles some other women are still going through.
SOUNDBITE	Laura Bassett/Student She portrays it realistically how Edna has to stay home every Tuesday and receive visitors and if she didn't, he was just appalled. He felt every other woman did it. She was trying to break free.
SOUNDBITE	Gabrielle Lee/Student I thought Leonce didn't understand Edna, but given what he had to understand her, I think he was probably more compassionate than were other men at that time and that he did make an effort.
NARRATOR	Students say things have changed for young women in today's society. But, in some respects, we still have a long way to go.
SOUNDBITE	Kathryn Hyman/Student Our society teaches women almost to examine yourself and learn who you are and your ideals, what they are, and your stances on certain issues long before you're involved in marriage. The women then were expected to get married and not to have their own views and opinions.
SOUNDBITE	Gabrielle Lee What of women who aren't meant to have children and aren't meant to have husbands. We still struggle with that today.

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