Edna Pontellier/Lady Macbeth Comparison

A detailed Summary of Edna Pontellier/Lady Macbeth Comparison

First Lady Johnson once commented that the 1960's was the first period in American history to offer women the same opportunities as men in utilizing their "abilities and intelligence." It is a time in which women may become independent and self-sufficient. They no longer are bound solely to the roles of housewife and mother, but may explore the world of occupation and earn careers that were once only available to men. Certainly there is more equality amongst the sexes now than at previous times when women were forced to be subservient to their husbands and obey his every whim. Yet, exceptions did exist throughout history where women were somewhat separate from their spouses or the relationship between them was balanced to some degree. Literature holds two fictitious accounts where women did not fully comply with the orthodox standards between man and wife. The Awakening by Kate Chopin describes the quest of Edna Pontellier to be liberated from her marriage and from the expectations of women in nineteenth-century American society. Macbeth by William Shakespeare tells of Lady Macbeth's desire to become Queen of Scotland and how she manipulates her husband into assassinating the current king so that they both may ascend to the

The most common attribute of both of these characters is their lack of total subservience towards their husbands. Edna Pontellier refuses to adequately perform the duties of a mother as seen in the following excerpt, "It would have been a difficult matter for Mr. Pontellier to define to his own satisfaction or any one else's wherein his wife failed in her duty toward their children" (50). Mr. Pontellier expects his wife to have great concern over the care and welfare of their kin, and her lack thereof clearly displeases him. Relishing the thought of being in control of her own life, Mrs. Pontellier decides to completely abandon her husband once and for all, "Instinct had prompted her to put away her husband's bounty in casting off her allegiance . . . she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself" (135). Edna's want of autonomy is blatantly apparent in this quote, "I know I shall like it, like the feeling of freedom and independence" (134). These declarative statements manifest Mr. Pontellier's total lack of command over his wife's actions or intentions, which is a rare situation for a man of his stature to be in, especially during this time period. Lady Macbeth is not as radical as Edna in her pursuits of ascendancy. Rather than blatantly defy the orders of her husband, she manipulates him through cunning assaults of his ego, offending his manhood and criticizing his small level of initiative and courage, "Wouldst thou have that / Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, / And live a coward in thine own esteem / Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,' / Like the poor cat i' the adage?" (I.vii.45-49). This excerpt is an example of how Lady Macbeth tried to coerce her husband into ki

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Approximate Word count = 1161
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English