Summary
The First Real Kiss
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Edna experiences a moment of genuine intimacy that awakens something real within her. While relaxing with Arobin, she reflects on her confusion about her own identity - by society's standards, she should feel guilty about her choices, but she doesn't. This disconnect puzzles her. She mentions Mademoiselle Reisz's cryptic advice about needing 'strong wings' to fly above tradition and prejudice, though she admits she doesn't fully understand it yet. When Arobin dismisses the pianist as crazy and disagreeable, Edna defends her as wonderfully sane - a telling moment that shows how differently she's starting to see the world. The chapter culminates in a kiss that feels fundamentally different from anything Edna has experienced before. Unlike her dutiful interactions with her husband or even her romantic fantasies about Robert, this moment ignites genuine desire. It's described as 'the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded' - suggesting that everything before was performance or obligation, not authentic feeling. This awakening represents a crucial turning point in Edna's journey toward understanding herself and what she truly wants, rather than what others expect of her.
Coming Up in Chapter 28
Edna's awakening desire sets new forces in motion. As she begins to understand what authentic feeling means, the gap between her inner truth and her outer life becomes impossible to ignore.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
W“hat is the matter with you?” asked Arobin that evening. “I never found you in such a happy mood.” Edna was tired by that time, and was reclining on the lounge before the fire. “Don’t you know the weather prophet has told us we shall see the sun pretty soon?” “Well, that ought to be reason enough,” he acquiesced. “You wouldn’t give me another if I sat here all night imploring you.” He sat close to her on a low tabouret, and as he spoke his fingers lightly touched the hair that fell a little over her forehead. She liked the touch of his fingers through her hair, and closed her eyes sensitively. “One of these days,” she said, “I’m going to pull myself together for a while and think—try to determine what character of a woman I am; for, candidly, I don’t know. By all the codes which I am acquainted with, I am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can’t convince myself that I am. I must think about it.” “Don’t. What’s the use? Why should you bother thinking about it when I can tell you what manner of woman you are.” His fingers strayed occasionally down to her warm, smooth cheeks and firm chin, which was growing a little full and double. “Oh, yes! You will tell me that I am adorable; everything that is captivating. Spare yourself the effort.” “No; I shan’t tell you anything of the sort, though I shouldn’t be lying if I did.” “Do you know Mademoiselle Reisz?” she asked irrelevantly. “The pianist? I know her by sight. I’ve heard her play.” “She says queer things sometimes in a bantering way that you don’t notice at the time and you find yourself thinking about afterward.” “For instance?” “Well, for instance, when I left her to-day, she put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she said. ‘The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth.’” “Whither would you soar?” “I’m not thinking of any extraordinary flights. I only half comprehend her.” “I’ve heard she’s partially demented,” said Arobin. “She seems to me wonderfully sane,” Edna replied. “I’m told she’s extremely disagreeable and unpleasant. Why have you introduced her at a moment when I desired to talk of you?” “Oh! talk of me if you like,” cried Edna, clasping her hands beneath her head; “but let me think of something else while you do.” “I’m jealous of your thoughts to-night. They’re making you a little kinder than usual; but some way I feel as if they were wandering, as if they were not here with me.” She only looked at him and smiled. His eyes were very near. He leaned upon the lounge with an arm extended across her, while the other hand still rested upon her...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Authentic Response
The ability to distinguish between genuine feelings and performed responses that we've been conditioned to display.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when you're genuinely engaged versus when you're going through expected motions.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when your body feels energized versus when you're just nodding along—in conversations, at work, even during physical affection.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Tabouret
A small, low stool or seat without arms or back. In wealthy 19th-century homes, these were often placed near fireplaces for intimate conversations. The close seating arrangement signals intimacy and informality.
Modern Usage:
Today we'd call this a footstool or ottoman - furniture that brings people physically closer together.
Weather Prophet
Someone who predicts the weather, but here used metaphorically. Edna is saying someone has promised better times ahead. In the 1890s, weather prediction was less scientific and more hopeful guessing.
Modern Usage:
We still use weather metaphors for life situations - 'weathering the storm' or 'sunny days ahead.'
The Codes
The unwritten social rules that governed women's behavior in the 1890s. These included being faithful to husbands, putting family first, and never acting on personal desires. Breaking these codes meant social disgrace.
Modern Usage:
We still have social codes - expectations about how mothers should act, what makes someone 'wife material,' or workplace behavior for women.
Specimen of the Sex
A way of referring to women as examples of their gender, like scientific specimens to be studied. This language shows how women were viewed as representatives of all womankind rather than individuals.
Modern Usage:
We still hear this in phrases like 'women these days' or when one woman's behavior is used to judge all women.
Strong Wings
A metaphor from Mademoiselle Reisz about needing courage and strength to fly above society's expectations. Birds with weak wings can't soar high enough to escape the ground-level dangers and restrictions.
Modern Usage:
We use similar metaphors today - 'spread your wings,' 'rise above,' or 'break free from limitations.'
Nature Had Really Responded
Chopin's way of describing genuine sexual desire and authentic physical attraction. In the 1890s, women weren't supposed to have sexual feelings, so this had to be coded language.
Modern Usage:
Today we'd simply call this chemistry, genuine attraction, or feeling a real spark with someone.
Characters in This Chapter
Edna
Protagonist
She's having a breakthrough moment of self-awareness, admitting she doesn't know who she really is. She's starting to distinguish between what she's supposed to feel guilty about and what she actually feels guilty about. This kiss awakens genuine desire she's never experienced before.
Modern Equivalent:
The woman finally admitting she's been living someone else's life and doesn't know what she actually wants
Arobin
Catalyst/love interest
He provides the physical intimacy that awakens Edna's authentic desires. His casual dismissal of Mademoiselle Reisz shows he doesn't understand the deeper changes happening in Edna. He represents pure physical attraction without emotional complexity.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who's great at physical chemistry but doesn't get your deeper journey
Mademoiselle Reisz
Mentor figure (referenced)
Though not physically present, her advice about needing 'strong wings' haunts this chapter. Edna defends her as 'wonderfully sane' when Arobin calls her crazy, showing Edna's growing appreciation for unconventional wisdom.
Modern Equivalent:
The older woman everyone calls difficult but who tells you truths others won't
Key Quotes & Analysis
"By all the codes which I am acquainted with, I am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can't convince myself that I am."
Context: She's reflecting on how society says she should feel guilty for her choices, but she genuinely doesn't feel guilty.
This shows Edna's growing awareness that external moral codes don't match her internal experience. She's starting to trust her own judgment over society's rules. The word 'convince' is key - she can't make herself feel bad about choices that feel right to her.
In Today's Words:
Everyone says I should feel terrible about my choices, but honestly? I don't.
"One of these days, I'm going to pull myself together for a while and think—try to determine what character of a woman I am."
Context: She's admitting to Arobin that she doesn't really know herself.
This is a moment of profound self-awareness. Edna realizes she's been living without truly examining who she is versus who she's supposed to be. The phrase 'pull myself together' suggests she knows this self-discovery will require effort and courage.
In Today's Words:
I need to figure out who I actually am, not just who everyone expects me to be.
"It was the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded."
Context: Describing Edna's kiss with Arobin and how different it feels from anything before.
This reveals that everything Edna has experienced before - with her husband, even her romantic fantasies - was performance or duty, not authentic desire. This moment represents her first genuine physical awakening to her own wants and needs.
In Today's Words:
For the first time in her life, she actually wanted to be kissed back.
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
Edna questions why she doesn't feel guilty about her choices when society says she should
Development
Evolved from earlier confusion about roles to active questioning of imposed feelings
In Your Life:
You might notice moments when you don't feel what you're 'supposed' to feel about major life decisions.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Edna defends Mademoiselle Reisz as 'wonderfully sane' when Arobin calls her crazy
Development
Progressed from accepting others' judgments to forming her own opinions
In Your Life:
You might find yourself defending people others dismiss simply because they don't conform.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
The reference to needing 'strong wings' to fly above tradition and prejudice
Development
Building on earlier metaphors of awakening to include the courage required for change
In Your Life:
You might realize that personal growth requires strength to withstand others' disapproval.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Edna experiences her first genuine kiss that awakens real desire rather than duty
Development
Contrasts sharply with earlier dutiful interactions and romantic fantasies
In Your Life:
You might recognize the difference between relationships based on obligation versus genuine connection.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What makes Edna's kiss with Arobin different from her previous romantic experiences?
analysis • surface - 2
Why doesn't Edna feel guilty about her choices when society says she should?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people performing emotions or responses instead of feeling them genuinely in today's world?
application • medium - 4
How can someone tell the difference between going through the motions and genuinely engaging with their life?
application • deep - 5
What does Edna's awakening reveal about the cost of living according to others' expectations versus your own authentic responses?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Authentic vs. Performed Response Inventory
Think about your typical day yesterday. List three moments where you responded to something - a conversation, a task, an interaction. For each moment, identify whether your response felt authentic (genuine, energizing, connected) or performed (dutiful, flat, going through motions). Don't judge either type - just notice the difference.
Consider:
- •Performed responses aren't always wrong - sometimes we need to be professional or polite
- •Authentic responses create physical sensations - energy, warmth, tension, or excitement
- •The goal is awareness, not perfection - knowing gives you choice
Journaling Prompt
Write about one area of your life where you suspect you've been performing rather than genuinely engaging. What would it look like to respond more authentically in that situation?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 28: The Clarity of Awakening
What lies ahead teaches us major life shifts bring both clarity and confusion simultaneously, and shows us the difference between physical attraction and genuine love. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.