Engl.

4382-Birzeit University
Seminar in Literature

The Disastrous Consequences of Sacrificing Family and

Society for Freedom

Prepared by: Noor Samaha

2021-2022
Noor Samaha
Professor Lloyd Precious
ENGL4382
May 17, 2022

Introduction:
 The topic of the seminar is understanding and analyzing the sacrifice theme of the

feminist heroine in Kate Chopin's novel "The Awakening" and Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La

Traviata." This requires us to think seriously and analyze how to formulate the sacrifice in

literature and its implications, as well as what is presented about the feminist heroine in the

different literary works such as novels, plays, or stories, and compare them with the results

and clarify the reasons and consequences of the presented sacrifice by the heroine in

investigating the primary texts by looking at the sacrifice.

I clarified, analyzed, understood, and explained the subject of sacrifice through

some questions that I relied on in order to clarify the reasons and analyze the secondary

aspects that affected the heroine, and linked some secondary issues to the main subject by

analyzing the different visions that led to the sacrifice, whether the result of this sacrifice

was happy or sad for the heroine. And how this result led to the clarification of the

situation of women in the nineteenth century.

Primary Texts:
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi
Secondary Text:

Abstract
 Writers had different ideas about how to write about women and how to classify

them. Some thought that women only existed to sacrifice for others, while others thought

that they have their own identity and existence that can't be touched. Writers about women

differ from one person to another, as they appear in their literary works that speak of

women in one way or another. There are many novels and operas that end in a satirical way

for the audience, but they are good for the writer because they give the idea to be

communicated differently. This paper presents a new reading of that commonplace in

nineteenth-century literature, female self-sacrifice. Rather than accepting self-sacrifice as a

given of women's nature, she explores her fictional representations to show that she was in

fact the preoccupation of the period, a subject of constant and fascinating interest. The idea

that self-immolation gives women a great purpose in a life that is otherwise limited by their

location gives the literature of the time a new perspective. In addition, many theories are

worth investigating, as this paper will discuss the sacrifice and death of female characters,

from Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" to Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La traviate," and

ultimately, fatal sacrifices by women, which will be He examines it in this paper called

The Sacrifice of Women in Society in the Nineteenth Century, where he discusses how the

clarification of the topic of women's sacrifice differs from one writer to another and how

each writer has a certain style of illustrating the main idea. This paper tends to study how

the death of the protagonist through her sacrifice for others is a possible solution for the

author for the sake of the main plot, while it is a confusing plot for the audience, and in a

way to clarify the main topic, which is to analyze how sacrifice is the possible solution for

the author when the creation of the end and life is a potential confusion for the audience.

Therefore, this paper will analyze the nature of sacrifice offered by women in "The

Awakening" by Kate Chopin and Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La traviate."

Literature Review
Text 1:
"Challenging Female Roles: Realism, Adultery and Liberation in Three 19th Century
European Novels"
As our seminar is about “Death and The Maiden Dying for Art in the 19th century”,

we have to have an overview of the women situation in that time in Europe. It was not too

hard to find an article talking about women in 19th century in general. At that time, “to be

a woman was to be a wife”. Izzy (BA English and German at Oxford, Distinction in

Masters at Oxford) writes about women roles in general in 19th century in her article

Challenging Female Roles. It’s thesis is “after all, a woman would spend the vast majority

of her life in the state of matrimony, bound to one particular individual but also bound by

the value system and expectation of society placed on that marriage.” In short, she says all

women’s behaviour are associated with the society view.

Izzy discusses the role of women in 19th century in three novels with three female

protagonists: Ann Karenina, Madam Bovary and Effi Briest. I think her evidences are very

strong due to their realistic direction as the three novels start with the marriage of the

female protagonists rather than ending with the engagement or wedding of them. These

novels were negatively criticized by the society in that time. As I’m writing about

women’s sacrifice to get freedom, this article does help me to understand what makes

women be unhappy with their marriage and as a result get into affairs. It also mentions that

these protagonists try to develop their own sense of personal agency and identity in order

to search for something greater than what’s limited by the society. This idea can be

represented in my primary text The Awakening as Edna’s rediscovery of her talents leads

her to go beyond the limits of society.

In conclusion, this article discusses women roles in 19th century through three

literature works. It will help me as it shows the reasons of marriage disputes. Also by
showing the self-realize of women and how it leads them to break the borders and seek

their desires.

Text 2:
"Biography of Kate Chopin, American Author and Protofeminist"
This biography is written by Amanda Prahl about the writer Kate Chopin.

Amanda’s thesis is “Kate Chopin was an American author whose short stories and novels

explored pre- and post-war Southern life. Today, she is considered a pioneer of early

feminist literature”. This article talks about Kate Chopin’s early life with mentioning some

details. it tells how she has been raised as a child and about her marriage life and

widowhood. It also shows her depression after her mother’s death. The article lists all

Chopin’s works of short stories and novels.

Chopin was raised in a largely female environment. This can be reflected on her

works. She was not a feminist but her work was. Her writings were a kind of therapy that

the doctor recommends her to do in order to heal from her depression. Her novel The

Awakening is her best-known work although it was wildly criticized at that time. This can

be helpful for me to understand the kind of societies the story takes place in.

Overall, this article contains all information about Chopin’s social and academic

life. It is important to know about the author of the text we are reading to take into account

his psychological state that he/she was controlled by when they wrote the text. It is obvious

that Chopin’s writings are associated with her life events which helps me analyze The

awakening more deeply.

Text 3:
"Kate Chopin's 'The Awakening' of Edna Pontellier"
A Woman's Rediscovery of Womanhood and Individualism

My primary text The awakening by Kate Chopin is the most known novel of her

works. It has many themes such as love, marriage, identity and feminism which makes it
unacceptable in that time. This article by Adam Burgess explains the title “awakening” of

the protagonist in three areas: art and individualism, sex and independent and womanhood

and motherhood. Burgess shows how the rediscovery of Edna’s artistic talents is a symbol

of freedom. She starts seeing defects in her previous work. She also describes Robert in a

way that only artists will think of which shows that “she begins to view the world in

artistic way”.

The writer thinks that the most examine awakening in the novel is the sexual

awakening. It is related very much to the motif of see. Finally, the awakening of

womanhood and motherhood comes at the very end of the book. Edna could not parallel

between her duty as a mother and wife and her individuality which makes her choose

death. Burgess uses very good evidences for each point. He quotes the description of

Robert “because his hair is brown and grows away from his temples; because he opens and

shuts his eyes, and his nose is a little out of drawing.” This quote assures Edna’s

awakening in art. He also quotes a specific conversation between Edna and Robert and

exhibits how this conversation expresses their passion and sexual desires towards one

another.

This article does not interpret my chosen theme (sacrifice) directly. Burgess talks

about sacrifice in just one sentence “She does sacrifice herself, as she claims she never

would, by giving up the chance at all she could have in order to protect her children’s

future and well-being.” Here, the writer tells how Edna sacrifices her life at the end of the

story in order to preserve her children's future reputation, but I would interpret this theme

in a different way.

I would like to discuss how Edna sacrifice her house, husband and children in order

to fill her sexual and subjective desires. Although this article does not have this view, but it
helps me understand Edna’s awakening in different perceptions which leads her to do that

sacrifice.

As indicated, this article makes me understand the title of the text as it deals with

the whole story of Edna. Her awakening is her freedom as much as her failure.

Understanding her different awakenings in life helps me discuss how she could sacrifice

her life as housewife to seek her self-desires.

Text 4:
Giuseppe Verdi
Italian composer
Alternate titles: Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi
Dyneley Hussey writes this article to introduce Giuseppe Verdi. He starts

describing him as “the leader of Italian composer of opera in the 19th century.” He writes

in details about Verdi’s early, middle and later years. Verdi had a will education due to his

father wish. He had many obstacles in his career life but still was a well-known composer.

He had to write many operas in order to get money, but sometime in his life he wrote his

best operas. Rigoletto, Il trovantore and La traviata were his best known and best loved

ones. Hussey mentions lots of names from Verdi’s life such as his wife and competitors.

This article was a little difficult for me to understand every sentence of it because it

is my first time reading about an opera composer. As La traviata is my secondary sours.

knowing about Verdi’s life was not very helpful to me. I just learned how creating La

traviata developed the relationship between him and Strepponi his wife.

Text 5:
La Traviata Themes
This article by unknown author talks about some important themes in my secondary

sours La traviata such as love, illness, morality and sacrifice. The last one is my chosen

theme for my discussion. This theme differs here from my fist text The Awakening. In La

traviata sacrifice is the main theme as Violetta the protagonist “gives up the man she loves
to save her family reputation”. In The Awakening, Edna sacrifice her house to stay with

the man she loves. However, they both have something in common as they love men who

are younger than them and in both cases, their love is rejected by the society.

The article also mentions condemnation and censorship which I do not consider

them as themes. They came as a result of audiences and society’s reaction. At first, La

traviata was hard to be understood by the audience and society in general at the meantime.

It also faced many hitches as the censorship put many obstacles to disturb it.

This article does help me understand some themes of La traviata which are

supported by evidences from some scenes of the opera. However, I think it does not cover

the whole play in general. I may need to read more about themes in La traviata in order to

be able to analyze it more deeply.

Conclusion:
To summarize, I hope these five articles will support my discussion well. Novels

are quite different from operas as novels are written but operas are performed. However,

they both have a message to deliver to the audience no matter the way is. My primary and

secondary sources The Awakening and La traviate talk about a protagonist who fell in love

with a younger man. I concluded the theme of sacrifice in both sources and clarified how it

differs in both stories. Also I was able to show the connection between them too.

Discussion:

1. Edna Pontellier's Awakening

In Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening, mother and wife Edna and Pontellier

experience a life-changing Awakening in the late 1800's in New Orleans, Louisiana. Edna

and her husband, Léonce, are prominent members of the Creole community, though Edna

has no love for her marriage mate. Although it is not acceptable to have sex at this time

and culture, Edna loves a young man, Robert Lebrun, while on vacation on the Grand Isle.
Here, he begins his Awakening. When both approaches, a well-known female artist, Alcée

Arobin, enters her life. She had a physical relationship with him while he was married and

in love with Robert. Edna struggles with her emotions to get what she wants out of life.

Edna finds that the result is that she will never be able to have what she wants; it is

inaccessible. Edna Pontellier, the protagonist of the story, shows how difficult and exciting

it can be to wake up.

Chopin reflects on the rise of Edna Pontellier on the emotional and psychological

changes she experienced throughout the novel. This idea first manifested itself when Edna

spoke to Mrs. Ratignolle on the beach at Grande Isle. He realizes and says for the first time

that he will not give up on his family's happiness. Edna told Madam Ratignolle that she

would never sacrifice for the sake of her children or anyone else, saying, "I can sacrifice

the less important things, give my money, give my life for my children, but I will not give

up." (47). the way Edna finally puts her thoughts into words shows an important point in

her self-esteem and role in society. When she speaks, she thinks for a long time, and her

thoughts are strong and legitimate. Of course, she has a right to remain true to him, so her

conversation with Madame Ratignolle opens her mind to all the new possibilities of

becoming a selfish person in everything else. Her change continues when she will not let

others see her as Mr. Pontellier's property. Edna and Robert rekindled their love of summer

so much that Robert tried so hard to stop it because Edna was a married woman. In this

interview with Robert, Edna comments that "I am no longer one of the things Mr.

Pontellier should throw away or not." I give myself where I choose" (108). Edna is

confident in herself and her position as a person on earth. He explains to Robert that his

reason for avoiding their contact was as senseless as he was, and never was, of Mr.

Pontellier. This connection is a sign of the pride that Edna developed when Robert last saw

each other. He develops by sharing with others his new self-confidence and his sense of
self. Furthermore, Edna finally realizes that she cannot live her life the way she wanted to.

As Edna arrived at the Grand Isle, "She thought of Léonce and the children." They were a

part of his life. But they did not have to think that they could have him, mind, body, and

soul "(116). And the man she loves in the community in which she lives. His mind can

wrap around the fact that her desires are very speculative and do not meet the facts. She

has grown to be able to understand that she will never have what she desires.

Eventually, Edna underwent a remarkable change and was able to see her life

through new eyes. As the novel concludes, Edna realizes that her hopes are dashed. He

accepts that Robert is also never going to be together and is not willing to go on living a

life he does not deserve. He walks alone to return to the beginning of all his awakening: the

Grande Isle. When he arrives, he will swim and find himself far away. His ability to swim

back to shore is gone as his lack of energy to survive means he cannot. Although the

ending is left vague, it is possible that Edna is sinking into the water where she will not

have to be the person she is. This landmark conclusion helps shed light on the changes that

took place in Edna's life. He thinks realistically and believes that death is his only way out.

Feelings of loneliness and inadequacy still exist today, all over the world. College students

are always trying to plan their lives and find out what work they have to do, even though

there are often obstacles. Grades do not support the dream, nor do the funds fail to meet the

required education. Feelings of despair and hopelessness soon follow, as did Edna's.

Struggling to live the life that one desire is one of the greatest challenges he faces and is

felt all around. Whether it is Edna or someone else, change is difficult and can damage life

as one knows.

Sacrifice in the Awakening

In Kate Chopin's novel, The Resurrection, mother and wife Edna and Pontellier

experience a life-changing resurrection in the late 1800's in New Orleans, Louisiana. Edna
and her husband, Léonce, are prominent members of the Creole community, though Edna

has no love for her marriage mate. Although it is not acceptable to have sex at this time

and culture, Edna loves a young man, Robert Lebrun, while on vacation on the Grand Isle.

Here, he begins his resurrection. When both approach, a well-known female artist, Alcée

Arobin, enters her life. She had a physical relationship with him while he was married and

in love with Robert. Edna struggles with her emotions to get what she wants out of life.

Edna finds that the result is that she will never be able to have what she wants; it is

inaccessible. Edna Pontellier, the protagonist of the story, shows how difficult and exciting

it can be to wake up.

Chopin reflects on the rise of Edna Pontellier on the emotional and psychological

changes she experienced throughout the novel. This idea first manifested itself when Edna

spoke to Mrs. Ratignolle on the beach at Grande Isle. He realizes and says for the first time

that he will not give up on his family's happiness. Edna told Madam Ratignolle that she

would never sacrifice for the sake of her children or anyone else, saying, "I can sacrifice

the less important things, give my money, give my life for my children, but I will not give

up." (47). the way Edna finally puts her thoughts into words shows an important point in

her self-esteem and role in society. When she speaks, she thinks for a long time, and her

thoughts are strong and legitimate. Of course, she has a right to remain true to him, so her

conversation with Madame Ratignolle opens her mind to all the new possibilities of

becoming a selfish person in everything. Her change continues when she will not let others

see her as Mr. Pontellier's property. Edna and Robert rekindled their love of summer so

much that Robert tried so hard to stop it because Edna was a married woman. In this

interview with Robert, Edna comments that "I am no longer one of the things Mr.

Pontellier should throw away or not." I give myself where I choose" (108). Edna is

confident in herself and her position as a person on earth. He explains to Robert that his
reason for avoiding their contact was as senseless as he was, and never was, of Mr.

Pontellier. This connection is a sign of the pride that Edna developed when Robert last saw

each other. He develops by sharing with others his new self-confidence and his sense of

self. Furthermore, Edna finally realizes that she cannot live her life the way she wanted to.

As Edna arrived on the Grand Isle, "She thought of Léonce and the children." They were a

part of his life. But they did not have to think that they could have him, mind, body, and

soul "(116). And the man she loves in the community in which she lives. His mind can

wrap around the fact that her desires are very speculative and do not meet the facts. She

has grown to be able to understand that she will never have what she desires.

Eventually, Edna underwent a remarkable change and was able to see her life

through new eyes. As the novel concludes, Edna realizes that her hopes are dashed. He

accepts that Robert is also never going to be together and is not willing to go on living a

life he does not deserve. He walks alone to return to the beginning of all his awakening: the

Grande Isle. When he arrives, he will swim and find himself far away. His ability to swim

back to shore is gone as his lack of energy to survive means he cannot. Although the

ending is left vague, it is possible that Edna is sinking into the water where she will not

have to be the person she is. This landmark conclusion helps shed light on the changes that

took place in Edna's life. He thinks realistically and believes that death is his only way out.

Feelings of loneliness and inadequacy still exist today, all over the world. College students

are always trying to plan their lives and find out what work they have to do, even though

there are often obstacles. Grades do not support the dream, nor do the funds fail to meet the

required education. Feelings of despair and hopelessness soon follow, as did Edna's.

Struggling to live the life that one desires is one of the greatest challenges he faces and is

felt all around. Whether it is Edna or someone else, change is difficult and can damage life

as one knows.
Edna Pontellier's Sacrifice in the Awakening

In her book "The Awakening," Edna Pontellier sacrifices herself to be a mother-

woman. In her community and in her life, she is expected to be a caring wife, caring for the

children and her husband. However, Edna sacrifices her character, dreams, and freedom

because she is trying to get into it.

Edna Pontellier is a mother of two children in the south at a time when women are

expected to be obedient, like women and caregivers. Edna is married to Leoncé Pontellier,

who married her so that she could escape with her family and be free. He says that, at some

point in the novel, he loves the way Leonce puzzles him but doesn't really love him the

way he should and the way Leoncé loves him. In addition, Leoncé cares about his

reputation and what the community thinks about him. He wants Edna to act in a certain

way. In doing so, she asks Edna to give up her identity and her character so that she can try

to be this mother-woman and be what society expects her to be. In the text, Leonce

compares Edna with Adele, a public image of a perfect woman, saying that Edna should be

like her and not be like her. You think Edna is careless and selfish. In addition, there is a

point in the book when Leonce tells Edna that their son is ill and needs to go see him. Edna

tells him that there is no way it could be because he was fine the last time he looked at

them. Leonce continues to harass her about it, wanting her to look after him. When Edna

finally realized that she was alive and that Leonce was lying to show that she was a bad

mother and that she was selfish, this shows how Edna sacrificed her character so that she

not only obeyed her husband but also the public expectations of both mother and daughter.

One thing Edna sacrificed to keep her dreams alive. Edna dreams of being an artist.

In the text, we see how Edna loves art and how she aspires to be an artist. However, she

cannot because she is expected to be a mother-woman. Edna also dreams of having Robert

Lebrun. Robert is a young man who visits the Grand Isle in the summer to help his mother.
Edna and Edna are able to communicate with and understand each other because of their

similarities. He too falls in love with her and sometimes gets jealous. However, Edna

cannot be with him because he is married and has children with Leonce. Edna also gave up

these dreams, Leoncé and being an artist, to live up to public expectations. This reveals

how much pressure she was under from her husband and the people of the city, like Adele,

to qualify.

Finally, Edna gives up her freedom to do what is expected of her. We know that Edna

wants to be free, so she married Leonce to try to be free. Her freedom is something Edna

struggles with and longs for. He was always looking for ways to relax and express himself.

For example, his artwork with Robert was one of the ways he tried to express his feelings.

She always felt comfortable in those two ways. In the text, Edna talks about going to sea

with Robert and feeling comfortable. In his last act, after losing Robert, he returns to the

Grand Isle and the sea because those are the places where he feels at ease.

The things Edna sacrificed, her character, her dreams, and her freedom, all revealed

that she did not deserve to be a mother or mother because she did not really care about her

children, husband, or reputation.

What Is Edna Pontellier Sacrifice in the Awakening?

In "The Awakening", Robert Lebrun sacrifices his love and desire for Edna

Pontellier because he knows she will never be with him. This shows that although Robert

was in love with Edna, he knew what was right and understood why he could not be with

her. Robert gives up his love for a business trip to Mexico and at the end of the novel when

he decides he can't stay with Edna in her "pigeon-house."

When Robert goes to Mexico looking for business and wealth, he does not tell Edna that he

plans to leave after spending a day with her. This showed that he did not want Edna to

know because it would make it difficult for her to stay. Moreover, when Robert sent
Mademoiselle Reisz a letter from Mexico informing her of his plans to return,

Mademoiselle Reisz admitted to Edna that the only reason Robert left Mexico was because

he was in love with Edna and knew he could not be with her. Mademoiselle Reisz tells

Edna, "She loves you, you poor idiot." This showed that Robert ended his love for Edna by

moving to Mexico because he knew he wanted to be with her but it was wrong.

At the end of the novel, we see how Robert gave up his love and happiness for

Edna. After Edna joins Adele Ratignolle at the time of the birth of her baby, Edna returns

home to the "dove house" and finds out that Robert is gone but has left a note for her. The

note says, "Goodbye, because I love you..." Robert leaves Edna this note, saying he should

leave her because he loves her so much. He realizes what he has done and how he feels

about Edna, but that Edna is married and has a family; therefore, he cannot be with her.

Robert professes his love for Edna many times during the novel, first when he travels to

Mexico and realizes that although he and Edna feel the same way about each other and

want to be together, that will not happen because he is married to Lèonce Pontellier and

has a family that needs him. The love shown by many characters throughout the novel, the

love of Robert and Edna for each other, and Léonce's love for Edna are examples seen in

"The Awakening". Robert's devotion reflected his love for Edna so much that he knew she

had to leave before it got too difficult.

2. La Traviata

The theme and setting of La Traviata were opera novels in the mid-19th century.

The scale is small and capitalist, not heroic or noble. The heroine is a fallen woman who

benefits from sacrificial redemption—a view that was somewhat dangerous at the time,

though it was not rejected by explorers. Insisted that the opera be set up today (that is, in

the 1850's) with modern costumes. Opera companies would not comply, insisting on

telling the story in the early 18th century. (The first operation set in the period mentioned
by Verdi took place in 1906, after Verdi's death and soon after the planning can be called

modern.)

In addition to other Italian opera composers of the time, Verdi composed music and

emphasized drama using techniques such as repetitive sentences (Violetta's "Ah, fors'è lui"

echoing Alfredo's declaration of love and continuing as a theme of love), instrumentation

(high violins accentuate Violetta's character from the snare onwards), coloratura decoration

depicting Violetta's agitation (thus forgiving what may seem like an empty beauty), and the

continuation of music (blurring the line between repetition and aria).

During Verdi's lifetime, La Traviata was one of the most popular operas in the

world, and it still is today. The story sounds fast, and the music is beautiful. In fact, the

needs of orchestras and singers do not make opera companies seem like they have more

money than they do.

The Sacrifice Theme in La Traviata

La Traviata is the story of a living Parisian courtesan who sacrificed a beloved man

to save the dignity of his family. Perhaps the most important theme in La Traviata is self-

sacrifice. Opera is a heartwarming story, not just because it is a story people do not believe

in, but because it is a story people want to believe in. It promotes the idea that it is possible

to attain the happiness of pure, orderly love. The story shows that it is possible—whether

the pain or the offense is caused—to correct mistakes by giving your best.

The theme of the sacrifice was exemplified when Alfredo's father, Giorgio

Germont, demanded that Violetta's relationship with his son be terminated because of his

family. Giorgio reveals that Violetta's relationship with Alfredo threatens his daughter's

engagement (Giorgio: Pura compliments the angel—"I have a pure daughter as an angel")

because of her reputation as a courtesan. Although he says he can't break up with Alfredo

because he loves her, Giorgio begs her. With growing sadness and understanding, she
finally agrees (Violetta, Giorgio: Dite alla giovine-"Say it to your child") and says

goodbye. Giorgio gives her a kiss on the forehead as a sign of thanks for being kind and

giving up herself. Then he leaves her alone to cry.

Violetta's sacrifice is not fully understood by Alfredo in Act Three, and as a result,

he behaves in a shameful way by deliberately treating her like a prostitute before a

convention. But at the end of the opera, when Vioetta died, and Alfredo got back

everything he and his family had lost, he felt terrible.

Looking at the sacrifice made by Violetta to distance herself from the person she

loved and whom she considered her salvation in order to reform herself, Giorgio Germont

comes and asks her to end her relationship with his son, for the sake of the family's

reputation not to be tainted by her presence among them. Then the opera moves to its end

in a scene of death for Violetta, and in a scene fullS of drama, Violetta re-reads a letter

from Alfredo's father in which he says that he told his son the truth about Violetta's

sacrifice and that Alfredo was on his way to see her and ask her forgiveness. Violetta is

sure it is too late and she will die before he arrives. You hear the sounds of the carnival.

Alfredo arrived and asked for Violetta's pardon. Ignoring Violetta's desperate situation,

they reaffirm their love and dream of leaving Paris for a new life. Germont arrived,

regretting his earlier treatment of Violetta. He asks for her mercy and declares that she is

like a daughter to him. But it is too late, and then Violetta falls as a lifeless corpse.

3. Conclusion

Through my analysis of the novel The Awakening and the opera La traviata, I

analyze the theme of sacrifice offered by the heroines of practical and literary women. I

conclude from this analysis that the feminism of the nineteenth century is oppressed in

every way; that Violetta is oppressed by being forced to dispense with the man she loves.

Because her reputation is not worthy of the Germont family, and all this on the pretext that
they want to marry off their daughter, who, according to their claim, is "like an angel." On

the other hand, we find that Edna Pontellier sacrificed her life, her loved ones, and her

dreams for the sake of her children and her husband.

Through my understanding of the sacrifices made in these two literary works, I

found that the female heroic characters tried to break away from the norm of society in the

nineteenth century. They tried to live their lives as they liked, not as they should live, and

we find in the end that the two characters tended to live as society wanted because they

couldn't stand this society.

The end of the novel Awakening had a tragic end with the escape of the only man

Edna loved. Edna's dream of living with whomever she desired came to an end when

Robert fled to Mexico for work, effectively ending Edna's dream of living with whomever

she desired. The end of La Traviata was also tragic, with the death of Violetta and the

regrets of Germont and his son Alfredo.

These two literary processes are similar in the redemption of each heroine in the

novel and the opera, as Edna found her salvation and freedom in swimming in the sea, and

on the other hand, Violetta reconciled with herself at the moment of death, wishing for life

and happiness for the woman whom Alfredo would marry.

Limitations:
• Sacrifice is not a main theme in The Awakening
• Paid articles
• Nothing in between the main characters