Final answer:
Kate Chopin's The Awakening expresses empathy for the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, as she struggles against the societal confines of marriage and explores her own desires, making it an important early feminist work.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the excerpts from chapters 1 and 3 of Kate Chopin's novel The Awakening, the author expresses empathy and support for the character Edna Pontellier. Chopin's language conveys Edna's internal struggle with the expectations of her role as a wife and mother within the restrictive societal constraints of the 19th century. By focusing on Edna's quest for personal fulfilment and her sexual desires, the novel challenges the conventions of Chopin’s day, advocating for a woman's right to seek her own identity and desires outside of marriage and motherhood. The experiences and feelings of Edna Pontellier in The Awakening were seen as controversial during the time of its publication, resulting in harsh criticism and censorship of the book. However, Chopin's forthright portrayal of a woman's struggle for autonomy has led to its recognition as an important feminist work in the modern era, which is now regarded as part of the canon of American literature. Chopin's own life reflected some of the themes explored in her literature, particularly after becoming a widow and taking on the role of supporting her family, which likely informed her empathetic portrayal of women's issues.