The Wakening tells the story of one woman's emotional journey from a stifled, miserable marriage to a spirited and lusty freedom. Young Edna Pontellier feels trapped in a loveless, although pampered, life with husband, Leonce. Stirrings of independence begin one summer while resorting in Grand Isle, an island off the coast of Louisiana. These new feelings have begun a profound change in Edna, liberating her beyond belief. An infidelity thus ensues, although at the expense of her marriage and motherhood. But the end is not as happy.

Kate Chopin (February 8, 1851—August 22, 1904), was an American author of short stories and novels. She is now considered by some to have been a forerunner of feminist authors of the 20th century. Her major works were two short story collections, Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Acadie (1897). The people in her stories are usually inhabitants of Louisiana. Many of her works are set in Natchitoches in north central Louisiana. Within a decade of her death, Chopin was widely recognized as one of the leading writers of her time.

Interesting and Timely … Chopin's oracular feminism and prophetic psychology almost outweigh her estimable literary talents. —Newsweek