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Use quotes and examples from text to explain why "The Awakening" should/shouldn't be banned.

Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" was published in 1899, when women were expected to be dedicated wives and mothers, and follow specific social expectations. Because Edna essentially has an emotional affair with another man when she is married, and because she chooses to explore sexual and emotional independence, this book was criticized from the very beginning. A big argument for banning this work is that Edna does not repent at the end of the book and she makes her own choice at the end of the book and takes her own life. However, today it is often considered a classic for its feminist stance and eloquent style.

One quote that speaks to Edna's independence is as follows:
"In short, Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her" (Chapter 6).

This story was written and published before women in the United States had the right to vote.  Women were expected to be pretty, silent, and run the household efficiently without complaint.  They were expected to serve their husbands without resentment...check out the sit-coms of the 50's in the US...all the women wore pearls and skirts while mopping the floor and made sure the house was clean, supper was on the table, and the pipe and slippers were ready for their husbands who worked so hard all day.  Bah!  "The Awakening" is among many works that awakened women all over the place to the fact that there is more to life than indentured servitude and domestic slavery.  Aside from the ideas of independent women who are clever and able to write and express creative and thought-provoking ideas, she commits suicide at the end of the story.  This is still considered a huge no-no and we've been reading Chopin's story for over one hundred years.

Why it shouldn't be banned? This shouldn't be a point of discussion. Banning anything is patently Unconstitutional in the US (read Amendment 1)...isn't it?  Let every written work be published as the author intended, and let the readers judge.  Works stand or fall by their own merit.  If you don't like what a book says, if you feel it too upsetting or feel offended by it, if you find it too racy or believe it 'corrupts the youth,' don't buy it, don't read it, convince others not to read it, don't check it out of your library and keep it away from your kids. Or better yet, write one rebutting it.