the awakening

Louisiana. This is a place and time for women to submit themselves to the wants and

needs of husbands and families. The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, isn’t content with being

a mother-woman, one of the ordinary, traditional women who, "...idolized their children,

worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it to a holy privilege to efface themselves as

individuals and grow wings as ministering angels"( Chopin 51). Edna wanted more, and

as there were very few women at this time leading the way to break these sorts of glass

ceilings, Edna looked for women within her life to model herself after.

Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz, two women who also engage in art,

serve as Edna Pontellier’s options, they represent what society views as the suitable and

unsuitable woman figures. Mademoiselle Ratignolle is the ideal Grand Isle woman, a

home-loving mother and a good wife, and Mademoiselle Reisz as the old, unmarried,

childless, musician who devoted her life to music, rather than a man. Feeling that neither

of their lifestyles were suitable and lacking the ability to create a model of her own, Edna

. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Mademoiselle Reiszs, Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna Pontellier, Edna Adele, Reisz Reisz, Regardless Adele, Reisz Edna, Arobin Reisz, Reisz Ive, Ratignolle Adele, mademoiselle reisz, mademoiselle reiszs, adele ratignolle, dinner party, life lacks love, beyond role, reisz adele, story suggests, suggests edna, alcee arobin, play piano, ability live play, mademoiselle reisz adele, story suggests edna,
Approximate Word count = 1618
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)