Themes and destiny in L'Éveil and Madame Bovary L'Éveil by Kate Chopin and Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert are both tales of women outraged by their domestic situation; the distinct differences between the two books are found in the unique tone of the authors. Both authors weave similar themes into their writings, such as escape from the monotony of domestic life, dissatisfaction with marital expectations, and suicide. References to “destiny” abound in both works. In L'Eveil, Chopin uses destiny to represent the expectations of Edna Pontellier's aristocratic society. Flaubert uses "destiny" to describe his characters' compulsive methods of dealing with guilt and rejecting personal responsibility. Both authors, however, seem to believe that it is destiny which oppresses these women; their creators view them subjectively, as if they were products of their respective environments. Chopin depicts Edna as an object, and she is only given the same respect as a possession. Edna's husband sees her and looks at "...his wife as one looks at a valuable personal property that has suffered damage." (P 2: The Awakening) Chopin foils their marriage into that of the Ratignolles who, "...understood each other perfectly". She makes the classic mistake of comparing her interior with the exterior of others when she thinks: "If ever the fusion of two humans into one was accomplished in this sphere, it was surely in their union." » (P 56: The Awakening) This sets the stage for her misfortune, providing a point of contrast for her discouraged marriage to Mr. Pontellier. She blames their marriage for their unhappiness stating that "...a marriage is one of... middle of paper......ate UP, 1969. 881-1000.Delbanco, Andrew."The Half life of Edna Pontellier. "New Essays on Awakening. Ed. Wendy Martin. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1988. 89-106. Gilmore, Michael T. "Revolt Against Nature: The Problematic Modernism of Awakening." " Martin 59 -84. Giorcelli, Cristina. "Edna's Wisdom: A Transitional and Numinous Fusion." Martin, Wendy, ed. New Essays on Awakening Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1988. Papke, Mary E. At the limit. Abyss: The Social Fiction of Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton, CT: Greenwood, 1990. Seyersted, Per. Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography: Louisiana State UP, 1969. Showalter, Elaine “Tradition and Female Talent: The Awakening.” as a solitary book. " Martin 33-55. Skaggs, Peggy. Kate Chopin. Boston: Twayne, 1985.