The Awakening
The society of Grand Isle places many expectations on its women to belong to men and be subordinate to their children. Edna Pontellier's society, therefore, abounds with "mother-women," who "idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it to a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals". The characters of Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz represent what society views as the suitable and unsuitable woman figures. Mademoiselle Ratignolle as 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. Edna varies between the two identities until she awakens to the fact that she needs to be an individual, but encounters the resistance of society's standards to her desire. Kate Chopin carefully, though subtly, establishes that Edna does not neglect her children, but only her mother-woman image. Chopin portrays this idea by telling the reader "Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman. The mother-woman seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle." Edna tries on one occasion to explain to Adele how she feels about
Similarly to Edna's relationship with her children is that with her husband, Leonce. The Grand Isle society defines the role of wife as full devotion towards their husband and to self-sacrifice for your husband. Edna never adhered to the society's definition, even at the beginning of the novel. For example, the other ladies at Grand Isle "all declared that Mr. Pontellier was the best husband in the world." And "Mrs. Pontellier was forced to admit she knew of none better". By using words like "forced" and "admit" Chopin illustrates Edna's true feelings towards Leonce. That she married him not because there are none better, but because there are also none worse. Edna's leaving Leonce's mansion is another important detail when considering her rebellion against the suitable woman idea. By moving to her own residence, Edna takes a colossal step towards her freedom; a direct violation of the way Adele feels. Throughout The Awakening, Edna increasingly distances herself from the image of the mother-woman, until her suicide, which serves as the total opposite. Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz, the two important female characters, provide the two
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Approximate Word count = 785
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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