The Awakening is a novel by Kate Chopin, first published in 1899. The plot centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle between her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes. It is one of the earlier American novels that focuses on women’s issues without condescension. It is also widely seen as a landmark work of early feminism. The novel’s blend of realistic narrative, incisive social commentary, and psychological complexity makes The Awaken a precursor of American modernist literature.