He is blind to the little things around him, during his time with his family. To Léonce, Edna is nothing more than a woman with whom he shares a home
Another critical moment occurs when she concludes her infatuation with Robert means more than originally thought and that she would miss him dearly while he moved to Mexico (61). Then Edna also comes to the understanding that the house she lives in with her husband does not feel like home. The possessions and money that fill the house constantly remind her that she has no materialistic belongings of her own. Therefore, she decides to move out and create her own personal haven (107). With clear eyes after having relationships with three men she realizes that she actually loves only one of them and she makes a hasty decision when she cannot physically have Robert (113).
When Edna and Adele with their families went to Grand Isle, sometimes, Edna will put herself into their children completely or forget them. Moreover, when her children tumbled, she will not pick them up just let them get up on their own. In contrast to Adele, Edna is not contributing herself to her family as well as Adele. Edna tries to fit in as the role to be a good mother, but, she cannot definitely, to be a mother-woman cannot fulfill her eagerness to be a special, independent and egocentric person. In Chapter XVI, Edna said to Adele, she would give her money and her life to children, but never herself.
Awakening is a novel written by Kate Chopin in 1899. As in many of Chopin’s writing, this novel concerns itself with morality and identity. The restrictions and expectations imposed on the protagonist, Edna Pontellier in the Awakening are based on gender and societal norms in the nineteenth century. In the Victorian Era, society deemed that the role of the woman was purely to be a wife and mother, but Edna had other ambitions, which included sexual freedom. In The Awakening many characters are observed, particularly female characters that are significantly different from each other in society.
As she did this, Edna faced many great challenges, but was able to come over some with the help of Romantic traits integrated in the story. The sea plays a big role in Edna’s journey to becoming free and when as they spent their summer near the ocean, she was able to realize that she wanted to escape and be free through its supernatural and romantic elements. This want escape was lead by transcendental influences from all around her. Once again, the sea is important in this because Edna decides to return to the sea and drown herself so she can be with nature and be free. Although Edna died her story did not die with her.
Edna finally starts doing things for her, she is letting herself feel an attraction for another man even though she is married and she also gets into art and has everyone in the house model for her. Rather than doing things to get the house ready for her husband or spending time playing with her children, she is distracted by all her newly found
Society is a strong force that molded Edna as a woman, but through her suicide, she was finally able to escape its grasp. She wasn’t wife nor mother material, and as she became conscious of it through the development of the novel, Edna isolated herself so she could be awaken. “I could only see the stretch of grass before me, and I feel as if I must walk on forever, without coming to the end of it” (Chopin 19). Edna is beginning to see her role as a wife and mother as eternal and inescapable. So, at the birth of Adele’s child, she starts to find it quite frightening because at this point Edna is reminded to stay dedicated and devoted to her children.
In the awakening, there is a constant conflict between inner and outer Edna. Societal expectations of women during this time period were for women to follow orders from their husband no matter the conditions. A man would not necessarily get married for love, but rather for the ownership of the women. Edna’s attempt to become an independent women is made difficult due to the the expectation from others, including her husband. When discussing with Doctor Mandelet about going away with her husband, Edna responds, “Perhaps-no, I am not going.
Edna then looks back at her feelings towards the birth of her children. She merely saw them as an addition to “the great unnumbered multitude of souls that come and go” and reveals her nonmarital nature. Then, Madame Ratignolle tells Edna to “Think of the children Edna... remember them.” These words ring in Edna’s head and played the role as a wake up call. Edna has previously planned on abandoning her moral values, but these words made her realize the effect her actions of adultery may have on her children. This is the first example of Edna’s alienation and how society’s assumptions of her, which were brought to her attention by Madame Ratignolle, should play a larger role in her
Edna’s father, the colonel, tires to edify Leonce and his wife 's relationship to keep Edna in line. However, Leonce lets Edna freely make her choices even if he does not agree with them all the time. Without a doubt, Edna achieved many goals throughout the novel. Throughout the novel Edna goes through many struggles with discovering herself. She comes to terms with what her idea of individualism and self reliance.