Analysing Edna’s Character in Chopin’s novel The Awakening through Sullivan’sTheory of Inter-personal Relations

Abstract

This paper examines and evaluates the character of Edna in Kate Chopin’s novel ‘The
Awakening’ from psychological perspectives in the light of theory of inter-personal relations by
Sullivan. This character evaluation is carried out with the help of the textual analysis of the
novel. The theory puts light on the relationships between people and their significant part in
shaping the personality of individuals through communications with other people (characters).
This article helps in interpreting multilayered personality of Edna in the perspective of her
relationships with other characters in the novel and their crucial impacts on her mind. Most
importantly, despite Edna’s controversial inter-personal relationships, the paper examines that
Edna’s character is strong-willed and ostentatious, who at least makes independent decisions
and resists societal challenges and familial constraints.