If anyone thought feminism was a 20th Century conception, The Awakening will swiftly disabuse you of that notion. Set in late 19th Century New Orleans, Kae Chopin's story follows the life of a woman, wife, and mother. The protagonist faces ethical and moral dilemmas as she is forced to reconcile her own desires and her right to have them against a traditional society bent on steering her to her traditional roles as a woman.