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AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies, Volume 7, Number 1. February 2023 Pp.195-207
1Department of English, College of Science and Humanities in Hawtat bani Tamim,
Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Zip Code: 11942, Saudi Arabia;
English Department, ISEAH, Kef, Jendouba University, Tunisia
2Department of English, College of Science and Humanities in Hawtat bani Tamim,
Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Zip Code: 11942, Saudi Arabia
This research paper studies the themes of individuality and convention in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening from a Hegelian dialectic perspective. The significance of the study lies in the fact that it fills a gap in knowledge that has not been fully addressed in relation to the theme of individuality and convention using Hegel’s dialectics. It examines the work to discover the vacillations of the heroine between rebellion and conformity and evaluate the outcome. Hegel’s framework of thesis, antithesis and synthesis is applicable to the analysis of the opposing themes. The study has managed to answer its key research questions. First, convention in the novel is represented by stringent social norms, patriarchy, matrimony, and women’s conformity with them. Second, individualism is mainly represented by Edna who struggles to put her inner self first, her misogamy, and her extra-marital romances. Third, interaction between individuality and convention tips the balance in favor of convention for the following main reasons: Edna’s compliance and ambivalence and Robert’s wavering and estrangement. Ultimately, the thesis comes into interaction with the antithesis to allow convention to prevail, leveraging and isolating Edna before she commits suicide.
Saoudi, B., Al-Mogheerah,R.A., Al-Sakhabrah, N. A., Al-Humeid, M.A., Al-Qahtani, B.A., Al-Bejan, H. R., Al-Taleb, H. M., & Al-Break, R .B. (2023). Individuality and Convention in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening: A Hegelian Dialectic Approach. Arab World English Journal for Translation & Literary Studies 7 (1): 195-207.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awejtls/vol7no1.15
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Bechir Saoudi got his Ph.D. in English Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Manouba, Tunisia. He is currently an Assistant Professor of English literature at the English Department of the College of Science and Humanities, Hawtat bani Tamim, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. His research interests are in the literary, critical, and cultural studies domain.
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5593-6891
The rest of the authors are graduate students of English Language and Literature at the College of Science and Humanities, Hawtat Bani
Tamim, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Reham Ali Al-Mogheerah’s ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2302-2707
Nourah Abdullah Al-Sakhabrah’s ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7326-6617
Manar Abdulaziz Al-Humeid’s ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6061-3410
Bashayer Abdullah Al-Qahtani’s ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5994-4220
Hadeel Rashed Al-Bejan’s ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9034-3204
Haya Mohammed Al-Taleb’s ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7542-8912
Rahaf Badah Al-Break’s ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6869-7399
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