The Pursuit of Human Freedom in Kate Chopin’s The...

In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and Charlotte Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Jane Eyre, one of the most prevalent and recurring themes and ideas relates to human freedom. The main characters in the two novels, Edna Pontellier and Jane Eyre, both long for social, religious, and sexual emancipation among other things – freedom from the constraints of Victorian society, which have rendered them dependent and inferior to men. While it is true that both protagonists of their respective novels wanted emancipation, their living conditions and qualities of life varied widely. Even though both women, Edna and Jane, wanted â€Å"emancipation† from their respective societies, the conditions that each woman was subject to were quite dissimilar. Jane had a very malnourished†¦show more content†¦In both novels, one of the main obstacles to emancipation for Jane and Edna lie within society itself. The Creole society in which Edna lived would most likely have been seen through Jane ’s eyes as much more â€Å"free† and â€Å"liberal† than the society she herself was living in. However, being able to look back at both societies, it is clear that they were both very restrictive, albeit in different ways and to different extremes. In Jane Eyre’s time a woman without money or a husband was frowned upon and cast down by the masses. In addition, social mobility was almost unheard of, as was unconformity to religion. In contrast, people living during the time The Awakening was written – specifically women – had slightly more leniency in terms of marriage choices. Even so, complete â€Å"freedom† as we look at it today was unobtainable. Edna wanted to be herself without having to do anything for anyone else. Her most noticeable outcry against society was her relationships with Robert and Alcà ©e Arobin. This sexual awakening was experienced and longed for by both women, but it manifested itself quite differently in eac h woman. Edna openly talked with other men, namely Robert and Alcà ©e and some evidence even suggests she had sex with Alcà ©e. This is exhibited â€Å"When he leaned forward and kissed her, she clasped his head, holding his lips to hers† (Chopin 139).