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The Awakening and Selected Short Stories
The Awakening and
Selected Short Stories
by Kate Chopin
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The Awakening and Selected Short Stories
THE AWAKENING
I
A green and yellow parrot； which hung in a cage outside the door； kept
repeating over and over：
〃Allez vous…en！ Allez vous…en！ Sapristi！ That's all right！〃
He could speak a little Spanish； and also a language which nobody
understood； unless it was the mocking…bird that hung on the other side of
the door； whistling his fluty notes out upon the breeze with maddening
persistence。
Mr。 Pontellier； unable to read his newspaper with any degree of
comfort； arose with an expression and an exclamation of disgust。
He walked down the gallery and across the narrow 〃bridges〃 which
connected the Lebrun cottages one with the other。 He had been seated
before the door of the main house。 The parrot and the mockingbird were
the property of Madame Lebrun； and they had the right to make all the
noise they wished。 Mr。 Pontellier had the privilege of quitting their
society when they ceased to be entertaining。
He stopped before the door of his own cottage； which was the fourth
one from the main building and next to the last。 Seating himself in a
wicker rocker which was there； he once more applied himself to the task
of reading the newspaper。 The day was Sunday； the paper was a day old。
The Sunday papers had not yet reached Grand Isle。 He was already
acquainted with the market reports； and he glanced restlessly over the
editorials and bits of news which he had not had time to read before
quitting New Orleans the day before。
Mr。 Pontellier wore eye…glasses。 He was a man of forty； of medium
height and rather slender build； he stooped a little。 His hair was brown
and straight； parted on one side。 His beard was neatly and closely
trimmed。
Once in a while he withdrew his glance from the newspaper and
looked about him。 There was more noise than ever over at the house。
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The Awakening and Selected Short Stories
The main building was called 〃the house；〃 to distinguish it from the
cottages。 The chattering and whistling birds were still at it。 Two young
girls； the Farival twins； were playing a duet from 〃Zampa〃 upon the piano。
Madame Lebrun was bustling in and out； giving orders in a high key to a
yard…boy whenever she got inside the house； and directions in an equally
high voice to a dining…room servant whenever she got outside。 She was a
fresh； pretty woman； clad always in white with elbow sleeves。 Her
starched skirts crinkled as she came and went。 Farther down； before one
of the cottages； a lady in black was walking demurely up and down； telling
her beads。 A good many persons of the pension had gone over to the
Cheniere Caminada in Beaudelet's lugger to hear mass。 Some young
people were out under the wateroaks playing croquet。 Mr。 Pontellier's
two children were there sturdy little fellows of four and five。 A quadroon
nurse followed them about with a faraway； meditative air。
Mr。 Pontellier finally lit a cigar and began to smoke； letting the paper
drag idly from his hand。 He fixed his gaze upon a white sunshade that
was advancing at snail's pace from the beach。 He could see it plainly
between the gaunt trunks of the water…oaks and across the stretch of
yellow camomile。 The gulf looked far away； melting hazily into the blue
of the horizon。 The sunshade continued to approach slowly。 Beneath
its pink…lined shelter were his wife； Mrs。 Pontellier； and young Robert
Lebrun。 When they reached the cottage； the two seated themselves with
some appearance of fatigue upon the upper step of the porch； facing each
other； each leaning against a supporting post。
〃What folly！ to bathe at such an hour in such heat！〃 exclaimed Mr。
Pontellier。 He himself had taken a plunge at daylight。 That was why
the morning seemed long to him。
〃You are burnt beyond recognition；〃 he added； looking at his wife as
one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered
some damage。 She held up her hands； strong； shapely hands； and
surveyed them critically； drawing up her fawn sleeves above the wrists。
Looking at them reminded her of her rings； which she had given to her
husband before leaving for the beach。 She silently reached out to him；
and he； understanding； took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped
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them into her open palm。 She slipped them upon her fingers； then
clasping her knees； she looked across at Robert and began to laugh。 The
rings sparkled upon her fingers。 He sent back an answering smile。
〃What is it？〃 asked Pontellier； looking lazily and amused from one to
the other。 It was some utter nonsense； some adventure out there in the
water； and they both tried to relate it at once。 It did not seem half so
amusing when told。 They realized this； and so did Mr。 Pontellier。 He
yawned and stretched himself。 Then he got up； saying he had half a mind
to go over to Klein's hotel and play a game of billiards。
〃Come go along； Lebrun；〃 he proposed to Robert。 But Robert
admitted quite frankly that he preferred to stay where he was and talk to
Mrs。 Pontellier。
〃Well； send him about his business when he bores you； Edna；〃
instructed her husband as he prepared to leave。
〃Here； take the umbrella；〃 she exclaimed； holding it out to him。 He
accepted the sunshade； and lifting it over his head descended the steps and
walked away。
〃Coming back to dinner？〃 his wife called after him。 He halted a
moment and shrugged his shoulders。 He felt in his vest pocket； there was
a ten…dollar bill there。 He did not know； perhaps he would return for the
early dinner and perhaps he would not。 It all depended upon the company
which he found over at Klein's and the size of 〃the game。〃 He did not say
this； but she understood it； and laughed； nodding good…by to him。
Both children wanted to follow their father when they saw him starting
out。 He kissed them and promised to bring them back bonbons and
peanuts。
II
Mrs。 Pontellier's eyes were quick and bright； they were a yellowish
brown； about the color of her hair。 She had a way of turning them swiftly
upon an object and holding them there as if lost in some inward maze of
contemplation or thought。
Her eyebrows were a shade darker than her hair。 They were thick and
almost horizontal； emphasizing the depth of her eyes。 She was rather
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handsome than beautiful。 Her face was captivating by reason of a certain
frankness of expression and a contradictory subtle play of features。 Her
manner was engaging。
Robert rolled a cigarette。 He smoked cigarettes because he could not
afford cigars； he said。 He had a cigar in his pocket which Mr。 Pontellier
had presented him with； and he was saving it for his after…dinner smoke。
This seemed quite proper and natural on his part。 In coloring he was
not unlike his companion。 A clean…shaved face made the resemblance
more pronounced than it would otherwise have been。 There rested no
shadow of care upon his open countenance。 His eyes gathered in and
reflected the light and languor of the summer day。
Mrs。 Pontellier reached over for a palm…leaf fan that lay on the porch
and began to fan herself； while Robert sent between his lips light puffs
from his cigarette。 They chatted incessantly： about the things around
them； their amusing adventure out in the water…it had again assumed its
entertaining aspect； about the wind； the trees； the people who had gone to
the Cheniere； about the children playing croquet under the oaks； and the
Farival twins； who were now performing the overture to 〃The Poet and the
Peasant。〃
Robert talked a good deal about himself。 He was very young； and did
not know any better。 Mrs。
