Assignment 1: Cultural Contexts was published in 1899, and the plot focuses on several months in the life of Edna Pontieller, a 28-year-old mother of two. As modern-day readers we may not entirely identify with the strict societal expectations of both men and women at that time, yet the theme of self-fulfillment still resonates today. Chopin introduces us to a few key characters who are influential in Edna’s evolution from a traditional mother and wife to a woman who decisively frees herself from a mortal life of “bondage” (i.e. marriage and motherhood). The novel touches on many social issues, including motherhood, sexuality, socioeconomic differences, marriage, and suicide. Struggles similar to Edna’s thirst for independence, identity, and freedom are also explored in contemporary media. Here are a few film examples of female characters in untraditional roles, and/or characters addressing controversial issues in an effort to find freedom: ; ; ; ; ; ; and and and and and For this assignment, compare and contrast the way one social issue is portrayed in the novel with the way it is portrayed in one o
r two of the above-mentioned films or another film that speaks to you in an important way in relation to Chopin’s work. For example, you could examine Edna’s suicide in contrast to Brooks’s suicide in . Brooks was finally released after over 40 years in prison, but he could not cope in a world that had progressed without him. Brooks could not live rules and structure. s need for the assurance of a strict system of rules is illustrated when Brooks continually asks the manager in his new job if he can be excused for a bathroom break. In contrast, Edna finds that she cannot live rules and societal “structure” in a marriage she finds constricting. In your analysis, you might conclude that while both characters ultimately chose similar fates, Brooks’s fate was based upon the fear of living structure, and Edna’s fate was based upon the fear of living structure. There are other aspects to consider in this analysis, including how the roles of mother and wife, family, and sexuality have changed over time. By , post your response to the following prompt to this . By , respond to at least 2 of your peers