"There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting as the imprint of an oar upon the water."
The Awakening takes place in 1899 at the tail end of the Victorian age. At this time, the feminist movement was just beginning to develop in the midst of the Industrial Revolution.
Women were still being held to certain dated ideals. A woman's role in society was a subservient and detached one. She existed merely for the purpose of getting married and raising children.
This site has a lot of information on the Victorian Era.
Mrs. Parizek's AP English
