An Analysis of the Novel “Awakening” Using Appraisal Theory

【Abstract】The paper mainly uses the attitude sub-system of the appraisal theory combining with rank scale to analyze the awakening process of Edna， the heroine in the novel “Awakening”. The article uses the emotion system to analyze Ednas different love views before and after her awakening， resorts to the judgment system to show Ednas deep loneliness accompanying her during her whole awakening process， and employs the appreciation system to explore the awakening of Ednas sexuality.

【Key words】attitude； judgment； Awakening； appreciation

1. Introduction

“Awakening”published in 1899， and it is a novel reflecting the ideas of feminist，Whose author is American writer Kate Chopin （1850-1904）. “Awakening”describes a Merchant's wife，28-year-old young woman Edna Pontellier， who fell in love with a playboy ， Robert Lebrun， then beginning a series of acts of resistance. She bravely disengaged on track， abandoning the responsibility as a wife and mother and pursuing the spiritual wealth and economic independence. Finally， with shattered dreams，she gave up the struggle in despair， into the arms of sea.This paper is mainly from the perspective of functional linguistics to analyze the novel “ Awakening” with the appraisal theory.

2. The appraisal theory

Appraisal theory is about the evaluation—all kinds of attitudes of the negotiations in the discourse， the emotional intensity， value and a variety of ways of the Union readers （Martin & Rose， 2003：23）.

Appraisal theory focuses on the expression of emotion， appreciation， and judgment. Emotion system is the core of the whole attitude system，judgment system and appreciation system derive from the emotion system. Attitude system is the core of the whole appraisal system.

3. The analysis of the novel “Awakening” with the appraisal theory

（1）Emotion system

Emotion refers to positive and negative feelings.The author of the novel “Awakening” uses a series of related process to compare changes of love view of Edna before and after awakening .For example：“She grew fond of her husband，realizing with some unaccountable satisfaction that no trace of passion or excessive and fictitious warmth colored her affection， thereby threatening its dissolution.”The sentence describes the love view of Edna before awakening using the verb“grew ”and low-value positive emotional adjective “fond” to highlight such a fact： there is no love and passion between Edna and her husband ，and the life between them is like backwater.

（2）Judgment system

Judgment functions on appraise about the humans behaviors positively or negatively according to social norms.Judgment can be divided into explicit and implicit judgment.For example：“In some way you seem to me like a child， Edna. You seemed to act without a certain amount of refection which is necessary in this life.”The sentence is the judgment about Ednas character， and the author uses explicit appraisal word “child” to express the evaluation from people around Edna about a series of behaviors of Edna in the process of awakening， even her friend is also not able to understand her， holding she is child -like， immature.These judgments reveal the deep solitude of Edna during her whole awakening，and indicate the awakening behavior of Edna is very bold，disengaged on track ，not suitable for the society.

（3）Appreciation system

According to the standard of value in a particular area， appreciation usually does an appreciation of value about the language symbol or natural phenomenon ， mainly aiming at the inanimate objects ，rather than people's behaviors. For example：“He did not say good-night until she had become supple to his gentle， seductive entreaties.”The sentence uses degree word “supple” to describe the body reaction of Edna，simultaneously using appreciation adjectives “gentle” and “seductive”to describe Lebruns tacts of flirting that promoting the awakening of Ednas consciousness.

Conclusion

Appraisal theory based on relevant systematic functional linguistics theories can promote the understanding and analysis of literary works，because appraisal theory provides the different perspectives of analysis and means of understanding.

References：

[1]Martin.J.R.English Text-System and Structure[M].Philadelphia /Amsterdam ： John Benjamins，1992.

[2]Halliday.M.A.K.An Introduction to Functional Grammar[M].London ：Edward Arnold，1994.

[3]Chopin，Kate.The Awakening.New York： Bantam Dell，2003.

[4]Martin.J.R.& Rose.D.Working with Discourse：Meaning Beyond the Clause[M].1999.

作者简介：崔会丽（1989.2-），女，河南安阳人，英语专业研究生，初级职称，研究方向：外国语言学及应用语言学。