History YMMV / TheAwakening

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Is Edna a tragic heroine who tries to free herself from a society that only values women who are self-sacrificing wives and mothers or is she a selfish and self-centered brat that resorts to suicide(leaving her loved ones behind to grieve) rather than face the consequences of her own actions?

* VindicatedByHistory: The novel was divisive amongst contemporary reviewers (although contrary to CommonKnowledge, it did receive some favourable contemporary reviews; the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' wrote, "There may be many opinions touching other aspects of ''The Awakening'', but all must concede its flawless art.... Complete mastery is apparent on every page", while the ''New York Times'' wrote, "The author has a clever way of managing a difficult subject, and wisely tempers the emotional elements found in the situation"), but by TheSixties it was being canonised as a lost classic. Though this is slowly being Inverted, as many readers today notice more problems with the book, and it’s reputation as a classic is under question.

* VindicatedByHistory: The novel was divisive amongst contemporary reviewers (although contrary to CommonKnowledge, it did receive some favourable contemporary reviews; the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' wrote, "There may be many opinions touching other aspects of ''The Awakening'', but all must concede its flawless art.... Complete mastery is apparent on every page", while the ''New York Times'' wrote, "The author has a clever way of managing a difficult subject, and wisely tempers the emotional elements found in the situation"), but by TheSixties it was being canonised as a lost classic. Though this is slowly being Inverted, as many readers today notice more problems with the book, and it’s reputaion as a classic is under question

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Edna's complete disinterest in her children and her marriage (and the possible pain that could cause her husband and children) are not expressed too deeply. Edna is portrayed as sympathetic and much in need of her awakening.

* VindicatedByHistory: The novel was a BaseBreaker amongst contemporary reviewers (although contrary to CommonKnowledge, it did receive some favourable contemporary reviews; the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' wrote, "There may be many opinions touching other aspects of ''The Awakening'', but all must concede its flawless art.... Complete mastery is apparent on every page", while the ''New York Times'' wrote, "The author has a clever way of managing a difficult subject, and wisely tempers the emotional elements found in the situation"), but by TheSixties it was being canonised as a lost classic. Though this is slowly being Inverted, as many readers today notice more problems with the book, and it’s reputaion as a classic is under question

* VindicatedByHistory: The novel was a BaseBreaker amongst contemporary reviewers (although contrary to CommonKnowledge, it did receive some favourable contemporary reviews; the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' wrote, "There may be many opinions touching other aspects of ''The Awakening'', but all must concede its flawless art.... Complete mastery is apparent on every page", while the ''New York Times'' wrote, "The author has a clever way of managing a difficult subject, and wisely tempers the emotional elements found in the situation"), but by TheSixties it was being canonised as a lost classic. Though this is slowly being Inverted, as many readers today notice more problems with the book, and it’s reputaion as a classi is under question

* VindicatedByHistory: The novel was a BaseBreaker amongst contemporary reviewers (although contrary to CommonKnowledge, it did receive some favourable contemporary reviews; the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' wrote, "There may be many opinions touching other aspects of ''The Awakening'', but all must concede its flawless art.... Complete mastery is apparent on every page", while the ''New York Times'' wrote, "The author has a clever way of managing a difficult subject, and wisely tempers the emotional elements found in the situation"), but by TheSixties it was being canonised as a lost classic.

* VindicatedByHistory: The novel was a BaseBreaker amongst contemporary reviewers (although contrary to CommonKnowledge, it did receive some favourable contemporary reviews; the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' wrote, "There may be many opinions touching other aspects of ''The Awakening'', but all must concede its flawless art", while the ''New York Times'' wrote, "The author has a clever way of managing a difficult subject, and wisely tempers the emotional elements found in the situation"), but by TheSixties it was being canonised as a lost classic.

* ValuesDissonance: Nowadays the book is barely as raunchy as your average YA novel (see GRatedSex), but back when it was published it was considered too inappropriate.

* PuritySue: Adele Ratignolle is deliberately placed in this role, to be a foil to Edna's character. She is seen as the ideal Victorian wife and mother figure.

!!The film:

* FridgeLogic: Mallory drops a weird one while developing photographs with Florence
-->'''Mallory''': When I was a lad, I'd huddle into my bed, wanting to see what was there, but too frightened [of the dark] to open my eyes. It's never darker than when we close our eyes, and yet we keep them shut. Why is that?

** On a second note, Edna's suicide is appearing to become interpreted as more selfish by today's students than in years past.