Part a: which of the following statements best identifies the central theme of the text? a love is unpredictable; our expectations for what love should or will be often clashes with reality. b despite the expectations placed on them, women require the same freedoms and intellectual stimulation as men. c marriage is a sacred commitment requiring much compromise and sacrifice from both partners. d growing up is a difficult and sometimes painful process.

The question doesn’t mention the name of the text; however, assuming that all the options best indicate “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin, the following can be said about it:

The correct answer is: B. Despite the expectations placed on them, women require the same freedoms and intellectual stimulation as men.

Explanation:

The text, along with the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, re-evaluates the expectations of being a woman in different roles (woman, wife, mother, daughter, lover, friend, sister, person, etc.) in view of being an individual self, and overturns them by reinstating the individual desire for freedom which does not see gender. This can be understood through various instances from the text, as follows:

After being wrongfully reprimanded by her husband for not taking adequate care of their child, Edna suffers “An indescribable oppression.” She feels neither guilt nor anger, but an “oppression”, which indicates forceful subjugation, a consciousness of lack of freedom; leading to her “anguish” which was the indignation resulting from the former (ch-3).

In chapter 36, Edna tells Robert that, “we women learn so little of life on the whole,” expressing in this statement the scarce opportunities for exploration and intellectual stimulation available to women as compared to men. Both Mr. Pontellier and Robert travel to other places throughout the novel, a need as well as a luxury that Edna didn’t possess. Her persistent and clear refusal to Mr. Pontellier’s repeated insistence on her not staying out of the house (ch-11), her declaration to Robert that no one possessed her (ch-36), her decision to reside in her own separate house (ch-26), and her restless exploration for intellectual stimulation in the society around her, were acts of boldness and defiance, among many others, that were condemned by the society, especially for women.  

Gradually, “Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her,” a realisation whose evolved form and harsh consequences are showcased in the character of Mademoiselle Reisz (Ch-6).  

Alternatively, one can also arrive at this answer by eliminating other options. Both the nature and realities of love and marriage are explored in the novel, but as companion themes contributing to the central one. On the other hand, growing up being a painful process is explored through Edna within the context of her identity as a woman, and the freedoms and the restrictions that that identity brought about. Hence, B is the correct answer.  

Food for thought: Despite B being the correct answer out of the given options, it is worth mentioning that the option itself in one way limits the freedom of women by comparing and in a way limiting their needs to those of men, and not individuals.

the: determiner

storm: noun

remains: verb

a: determiner

threat: noun

to: preposition

the: determiner

coastal: adjective

village: noun