The uncivilized aspects of marriage in The Awakening and Jude the Obscure were written in order to expose the Victorian era's faults through adultery. The true feelings of Edna Pontellier and Jude Fawley were written by their respected authors to undermine Victorian society. Each novel was condemned due to the lack of restraint and the apparent free thinking. Not until many years later after they were written, were these novels appreciated for their impure thoughts of love and adultery. For this reason, these novels will continue being read in order to fully understand and appreciate the once boorish and clandestine thoughts of adultery.

During the time of which these novels were written, one's social status was of high importance and to commit adultery was seen as the epitome of a person on the bottom of the social ladder. Edna Pontellier is afraid of being considered a lower class...