Is she strong or is she weak? Much conflict lies over the end of Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening. The Awakening displays the life of a weak woman, Edna Pontillier, through showing her lack of commitment, frivolous self-indulgent behavior and giving into the world without resistance.

Commitment is not one of Edna's qualities. Chopin's "heroine found marriage . . . stultifying."(Elaine Kendall) This self-centered justifies Edna idea to live more for herself, seeking lust, not love. Her husband is not the only thing to go either. Edna sends her children away to their grandmother's home. This leaves her even more free to do what or whom she wants. She even leaves her husband's estate for her own "pigeon house" (152). Being farther away from her husbands things allows Edna to let go of even more commitment. Edna definitely shows no disregard for object or people, but she does take care to...