In Edna Pontellier's adopted culture, the Creole culture, women have a certain expectations in society. A Creole women must be beautiful, motherly, a good wife to their husbands. "They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privil

ege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels" (pg. 8). This is what was expected of women, it was their place in Creole society. However Edna awoke from this social institution in which women have a predestined life, which they must live the Creole way. Edna became conscious of the fact that this culture is what kept her from doing what she really wanted to do, to love, live, be independent and to express herself as an individual. Throughout the work Edna is constantly awakening from her naps, constantly awakening to a world she cannot escape. "Each morning she awoke with hope..." (pg. 104) and "When Edna awoke with the conviction that she had slept long and soundly." (pg. 37), these are a few examples of Edna awakening from slumber. It is only through these frequent

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Approximate Word count = 540
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)