【正文】 um in the 1890s in the United States, women, southern women in particular, still enjoyed little political, economical, and legal rights. According to Margaret Culley, most married women in New Orleans were indeed the property of their husbands at the time when the book was written (Culley 117). In addition, the law clearly stated that “All of a wife?s ?accumulations? after marriage were the property of her husband, including money she might earn and the clothes she wore.” Women were seen as “absolutely incapable” of testifying in court and they had no rights to vote until the 20th century. In the case of a divorce, women were often robbed of the custody of their children. “Despite social and political advances, women 距下一個一級標(biāo)題空一行 23 in the 1890s still encountered disadvantages in almost every aspect of their lives, and a majority of the populace still believed that a woman?s most sacred duty was to be ?the angel in the house?” (Culley 119). In this respect, The Creole women of New Orleans are indisputably honored as the model women of that age, famous for their chastity and virtues. Although the Creole society seems to be quite open, it is a deceptive openness which bases on their women?s unquestionable virtues and their confidence of its Patriarchy (Dyer 11). … . Ⅲ . Edna?s awakening A. Edna?s life before her awakening Edna Pontellier, the protagonist, grows up in a Presbyterian family in Kentucky with strict upbringing. Her mother died when she was quite young and after that her sister managed the family. Her father is a rigid colonel, who believes that for women, “coercion is what is needed” and “put your foot down good and hard” is “the only way to manage a wife” (Chopin 102). Ironically, it is him who drove his wife into the grave. Not surprisingly, Edna grows up to be selfcontained and reserved, keeping her private thoughts totally to her self. Moreover, she has been trained to obey and to do what is expected of her. … . VI. Conclusion … . 各級標(biāo)題必須與目錄保持一致 24 Works Cited Baym, Nina, ed. The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin, Viixi. New York: Modern Library, 1981. Baym, Nina and others, eds. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter 5th edition. New York: Norton, 1999. Bloom, Harold, ed. Kate Chopin. New York: Chelsea, 1987. Boren, Lynda S. and Sara de Saussure Davis, eds. Kate Chopin Reconsidered: beyond the Bayou. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1992. Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Cambridge UP, 1996. Culley, Margaret, ed. The Awakening: An Authoritative Text, Contexts, Criticism. New York: Norton, 1976. Dyer, Joyce. The Awakening: A Novel of Beginning. Twayne’s Masterwork Studies. New York: Twayne, 1993. Leary, Lewis, ed. The Awakening and Other Stories. New York: Holt, 1970. Malzahn, Manfred. “The Strange Demise of Edna Pontellier.” Southern Literary Journal (1991): 319. Nelles, William. “Edna Pontellier?s Revolt against Nature.” American Literature Realism (1999): 4350. Seyersted, Per, ed. The Complete Works of Kate Chopin. 2 vols. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1969. Showalter, Elaine. “The Awakening: Tradition and the American Female Talent.” Sister’s Choice: Tradition and Change in American Women’s Writing. New York: 同一文獻第二行以后各行左對齊 25 Oxford UP, 1991. 3355. Skaggs, Peggy. Kate Chopin. Boston: Twayne, 1985. Taylor, Walter and Jo Ann B. Fineman. “Kate Chopin: PreFreudian Freudian.” Southern Literary Journal (1996): 3545. Woolf, Virginia. Professions for Women. New York: Norton, 1996. 重要提示 ： 1． 注釋和文獻 參照 MLA 格式 ，基本著錄原則為作者姓名、文獻名、出版信息，中間用英文句號“ .”分隔。頂格，離上文空一行 中文撰寫的論文摘要，字?jǐn)?shù) 500－ 800，字體宋體，小四 關(guān)鍵詞 2－ 4 個，中間空格，不用標(biāo)點 20 Abstract The Awakening depicts the process of Edna Pontellier?s awakening from a middle class housewife to a new woman of her age who struggles for selfautonomy. In Chopin?s age, the American society, southern society in particular, was basically a patriarchal one in which women were constrained in the households all their life time and the only roles they could play were obedient daughters, submissive wives and loving mothers. Before her awakening, Edna Pontellier led a conventional life as other women of her age did. She grew up with strict upbringing, later got married and had children. However, deep inside, she was passionate and rebellious. On the Grand Isle, Edna underwent a profound and painful process of awakening which was both spiritual and physical. Her awakening began with her growing dissatisfaction with her marriage and was furthered by the influence of Adele, Mademoiselle Reisz and Robert. After her awakening to her self, Edna chose neither to be a “mother woman” like Adele nor an isolated artist like Mlle Reisz. Rather, she struggled to live a life of her own. In the first place, she rejected the fortable life her husband offered and sought to gain economic independence. She refused to carry out the household duties and tried to earn her own money by painting. Later she even moved out of her husband?s house and declared her independence with a fancy dinner party. Secondly, she tried to take control of her body which she regarded as an integral part of her identity. She had an affair with Arobin, satisfying her physical needs, but retained her freedom from male domination. Lastly, with her newly gained insights, Edna abandoned her fantasies about romantic love. She finally understood that Robert was no different from her husband or Arobin who regarded her as objects rather than independent person. In the end, between motherhood and her self, Edna chose the latter. Accepting no promises rather than a life of her own, Edna chose to embrace the sea and died a whole person. Key words: Edna awakening selfautonomy 四號字， Times New Romans字體，加粗，