LeBlanc’s Analysis of Sexuality in Chopin’s The Awakening Essay

LeBlancs depth psychology of Sexuality in Chopins The waking upDefinitions are tricky things. such is the conclusion of Ross C. Murfin in his attempts to spell out the major literary theories discussed in our text attempts to highlight the difference between feminist and gender condemnation are inevitably prone to reductive overgeneralization and occasional distortion(footnote p.226). such is the conclusion of gender theorists in general in their pursuit of critiquing the traditional definitions of phallic/ female, masculine/ feminine, and hetero internal/ homosexual. Such is my conclusion in development Elizabeth LeBlancs attempts at defining and utilizing the notion of the figurative sapphic in her summary of Kate Chopins The Awakening. Tricky as they may be, however, definitions, at least in our efforts to formulate them, constitute our lives, our thought processes, and our discourse Who are we? What is our purpose? What does it all soused? With this in mind, what are we to make of the metaphorical lesbian or of the true lesbian? Although I found LeBlancs essay to be exceptionally raise in its formulations and insights, after reading it I am, nonetheless, left with the feeling that her definitions wealthy person become so broad as to seemingly negate some(prenominal) tangible, differentiated meaning. Within the essay, LeBlanc uses Bonnie Zimmermans concept of the metaphorical lesbian, Adrienne Richs concept of dictatorial heterosexuality, and de Lauretis rejection of a biological definition of feminine gender in reevaluating The Awakening as a lesbian text. In doing so, she defines Edna Pontellier as this metaphorical lesbian in that the character repudiates the societal myth of woman, fosters women-identified experience, crea... ...nature. As the novel progresses, Edna seems to bust away from her female relationships in that she stops receiving her women callers and even visits with Adele less frequently. Edna seems have-to doe with with her sole self and its enrichment more than with forming and/or maintaining bonds with anyone else, except for maybe the male Robert. Even in regards to her sexuality, she appears to be more interested in the sexual feelings themselves than in who is creating them for her, such as with her indifference towards Arobin after their sexual interaction. In this light, perhaps Edna is more of a metaphorical masturbator than a metaphorical lesbian. Regardless of Ednas metaphors, however, LeBlancs metaphors in describing her are extremely inclusive in a way that leaves telling gaps. LeBlancs metaphorical lesbian can thus be seen in actuality as a metaphorical nebula.