Kate Chopin, The Awakening

In Kate Chopin's The Awakening Edna Pontellier "awakens" to the realization that she is a person and not the possession of her husband. When she awakens she realizes she is in an oppressive society and that she is no longer one of the mindless member of the majority but an individual who's passion conflicts the responsibility that society feels she should be dedicated to. She finds true love but realizes that to follow it would …

…by running away in fear, in my opinion suicide is very selfish. There are many ways of looking at Edna's choices and behavior, some may think her selfish and then again some may consider her a brave visionary, standing against the sexist majority and defining herself as an individual. In the end Edna's conflict between passion and responsibility and defiance of the majority is not a minor influence on the story, but is the story.