Madame Bovary & The Awakening
Uyanış 
Madame Bovary stonishing similarities can be found in the two nineteenth-century novels “Madame Bovary” by Gustave Flaubert and “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin. The latter was published 1899, 42 years after Flaubert’s novel. A reason for the main differences between the two novels is the beginning of the feminist movement in the end of the nineteenth century. In spite of Edna being the “Creole Bovary”, as Willa Cather states (Knights 2000: xlii), her motifs and struggles differ from Emma’s. While Emma Bovary is guided by her romantic illusions and ideals only, Edna Pontellier is much more of a woman struggling for independence and self-control. Emma wants to be possessed by her lovers; Edna rejects even Robert’s wish for her being his wife: “I give myself where I choose.” (Chopin: 119). However, both women have a lot in common. Both Edna as well as Emma are victims of their societies. Emma lives among citizens who obey to the moral codes and rules of the French bourgeoisie, while Edna’s role is to follow the pattern of a Creole wife and mother. Being capricious and showing their own will is being seen as unheard-of in their societies. Especially the marital status of both women is cause and reason to boredom. Charles (as a doctor) and Léonce (as a businessman) are very busy with their work and extremely concerned about upholding their social status. In Edna’s case, her husband even sees her as one of his possessions: “[…] looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage.” (Chopin: 4) Although not spending much time with their wives, both husbands expect them to be exemplary wives. Thus, feeling oppressed and bored by the burdens of marriage and motherhood, the protagonists of both novels indulge in romantic love affairs.
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