Throughout the centuries, women have been relegated to the role of mothers and housewives. All women who do not conform to the harsh and chauvinistic rules of society suffer alienation and are considered unlovable sluts or independents. These unjust principles imposed by society do not allow women to be free in the way they live. After experiencing an "awakening," Edna Pontellier struggles to find her place in a society that does not allow women to be anything other than compliant wives. She cannot see herself as another submissive woman in her Creole society; rather, he would like to choose his own path. Kate Chopin, in The Awakening, illustrates that women are unable to live their lives as they see fit through Edna's struggle to cope with those choices that her oppressive society has presented to her. Despite the rigid traditions of her society, Edna Pontellier attempts to free herself from her role as wife and mother in search of autonomy, but, as a result, she is rejected by society and left dissatisfied. Although she would like to be more independent, Creole society dictates that women are mothers who dedicate their lives completely to family and duty. First, Chopin shows that there is an “absolutely inevitable link – fundamental, natural, and powerful – between female identity and motherhood” to illustrate how women are tied to society's belief that women must be mothers; Chopin does this by explaining that Madame Ratignolle, a friend of Mrs. Pontellier whom he met during the summer, is always pregnant and therefore always tied to her children (Skaggs 90). She later explains that the typical women of that summer in New Orleans “were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands” (Chopin 10). His purpose in conveying this… medium of paper… due to the strict rules imposed on them, women are not able to live as they would like to live. Works Cited Bogard, Carely Rees. “‘The Awakening’: A Refusal to Compromise.” The University of Michigan papers on women's studies. 1977. Gale. Online. January 28, 2010. Chopin, Kate. The awakening. New York: Bantam Classic, 1981. Elfenbein, Anna Shannon. “The Awakening of Kate Chopin: An Assault on American Racial and Sexual Mythology.” Literary criticism of the twentieth century. (2003). Storm. Online. January 30, 2010.Malzahn, Manfred. "The Strange Disappearance of Edna Pontellier." Literary criticism of the twentieth century. 2002. Gale. Online. January 28, 2010.Muirhead, Marion. “Articulation and Artistry: A Conversational Analysis for Awakening.” Southern Literary Journal. 2000. Proposal. Online. January 29, 2010.Skaggs, Peggy. Kate Chopin. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1985.