Songs to Accompy "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

 

 

Hold On We’re Going Home; Drake

Lyrics: “I got my eyes on you. You’re everything that I see. I want your hot love and emotion endlessly.”

Part in the novel: “He stood close to her, and the effrontery in his eyes repelled the old, vanishing self in her, yet drew all her awakening sensuousness. He saw enough in her face to impel him to take her hand and hold it while he said his lingering good night.”

In Drake’s song he describes a women who he wants to go “home with.” Throughout the song, he describes their chemistry on an intimate level, but negates to talk about their relationship on a deeper level. This song would accompany the scene when Alcee and Edna are holding hands, which is the start of their so-called romance. Alcee and Edna have a great amount of physical attraction to one another, but their relationship goes not extend from there. Adding this song to the scene would demonstrate to the reader that Alcee and Edna’s relationship is purely based on lust, rather than love. Additionally, the song would add an upbeat and happier tone to the scene. It would provide a break from the novel’s dreary and sad theme. 

 

He Won’t Go; Adele

Lyrics: “Wake me up, wake me up when all is done, I won’t rise until the battles won, my dignity has become undone. But I won’t go, I can’t do it on my own, If this ain’t love, then what is, I’m willing to take the risk.”

Part in the novel: “Exhaustion was pressing upon and overpowering her…She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again.”

In Adele’s song “He Won’t Go”, there were multiple lyrics that struck a cord within me regarding Edna’s awakening and plight. Adele lyrics simply state that she wants to be woken up when all is done and will not awake until the “battle” is won. If one uses going to sleep as a metaphor for death, then it translates for Edna’s personal battles. Edna’s battle is a battle with herself and she cannot “awaken” until it is won. Edna cannot live because her battle is not “won” and she doesn’t know who she is at her core; consequently, this song could accompany when she takes her own life. Edna is “willing to take the risk” of death because she doesn’t know what love is and is willing to die because she views life as pointless, without love. Adding this song to the scene would make it more powerful and intense.  

Fall For You; Secondhand Serenade

Lyrics: “This is not what I intended. I always swore to you I'd never fall apart. You always thought that I was stronger. I may have failed”

Part in the novel: “He reproached his wife with her inattention, her habitual neglect of the children. If it was not a mother's place to look after children, whose on earth was it? He him self had his hands full with his brokerage business. He could not be in two places at once; making a living for his family on the street, and staying at home to see that no harm befell them. He talked in a monotonous, insistent way.”

This song would accompany the part in novel when Leonce is upset that Edna will not check on her young son. This song is about a couple that argues constantly and has fallen out of love with one another, similar to Leonce and Edna. Since it is the beginning of the novel, the reader is still unaware of the plot, so this song would bring an optimistic element to the scene. The reader can assume that Leonce and Edna’s relationship had been slowly deteriorating, even though they had sincere intentions when marrying. Personally, I believe that they both failed one another, which lead to their separation.

Million Dollar Man; Lana Del Ray

Lyrics: “You're screwed up and brilliant, Look like a million dollar man, So why is my heart broke?”

Part in the novel: “"What are you doing out here, Edna? I thought I should find you in bed," said her husband, when he discovered her lying there. He had walked up with Madame Lebrun and left her at the house. His wife did not reply.”

Lana Del Ray’s song “Million Dollar Man” represents Edna and Leonce’s relationship. Throughout the song, Lana describes a man that has wealth and smarts, but the woman is not receptive to him nor his money. As a result, the song states “So why is my heart broke.” It is not difficult to realize that Edna’s heart is broke. But why? It is apparent that she has various internal issues, which Leonce nor his amount of money can solve. The song would be placed when Edna defies Leonce by sleeping outside on their hammock. Edna yearns for freedom from Leonce, which she makes apparent in this scene. This song would not only add depth to the scene, but also would allow for viewers to gain insight into the rest of the novel.

Let Her Go; Passenger

Lyrics: “Only know you've been high when you're feeling low. Only hate the road when you’re missin' home. Only know you love her when you let her go. And you let her go”

Part in the novel: “The house was empty. But he had scrawled on a piece of paper that lay in the lamplight: I love you. Good-by-because I love you. ”

It seems as if “Let Her Go” by Passenger was created to depict Edna’s internal struggle and her rocky relationship with Robert. This song would be quintessential for “The Awakening” soundtrack because there are multiple aspects of Edna’s personality and her relationship with Robert that relate to this song. The song’s tone is somewhat depressing and deep, but so is this novel, which makes it ideal for the soundtrack. Throughout the novel, Edna moods consist of extreme highs and low and some would call her moody (myself included). Additionally, she rarely appreciates what she has and wishes for what she is lacking at that time. To put it simply, this song describes an individual who continuously believes that the “grass is greener on the other side” and Edna is that person. Additionally, I believe that Robert realizes that even though he loves Edna, she cannot love him back because she does not love herself; consequently, he writes her the note a note by her lamplight, which says “I love you, Good-by because I love you."