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The Awakening: A Study
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As a child, one has little to worry about; children take what situations come to them, think little of reasons for the actions and move on. As a teenager, things do not change much, but teens do become more involved with other people’s lives, yet, in general, tend to consider themselves more than anyone else. Edna Pontellier is a twenty-eight year old woman with the mind of a child at one moment, teenager the next, and emotions of any normal woman throughout the short part of her life in The Awakening. Kate Chopin paints a character in Edna so lost in her own mind she cannot deal with other humans. At times we can feel sorry for Edna’s plights, but she is a difficult woman to understand. She has many attributes that every human possesses, but she cannot understand herself, and truly cares little for other people. Chopin creates in Edna a mildly considerate character in the beginning, but by the end, her behavior, character, and selfishness make her the most contemptible character in the novel. In the beginning of the novel Edna is not an immoral or unlikable character, but it does not take long before she begins to show signs of infidelity. Edna is married to Léonce Pontellier, an ambitious businessman, and devoted husband. The couple have two children, both under ten years of age, and the family is vacationing at the Grand Isle as the novel starts. Robert Lebrun, a man of twenty six years, and son to the family who owns the resort style estate on which the Pontellier’s are staying, is the center of attraction for Edna throughout the novel. Midway during their visit, Edna feels compelled to go to the beach with Robert. She cannot explain why she feels the way she does, much as most people cannot explain their actions when they are attracted to someone. Chopin uses the phrase, “two contradictory impulses which compelled her” (p 689) to indicate that Edna has a consciousness of which she is aware. The impulses Chopin refers to are passion for another man and fidelity to her husband, two very important, but obviously opposite emotions. Chopin intends early in the novel to create the idea that Edna cares for her husband, and Chopin attempts to make her a model housewife. It is always easier to sympathize with someone if they have an active consciousness though. Chopin continues to characterize Edna as a normal, twenty-eight year old woman and uses Madame Ratignolle as a contrasting character in the beginning. “Who can tell what metals the gods use in forging the subtle bond which we call sympathy, which we might as well call love” (p 690). This bold statement Madame Ratignolle makes is Chopin’s way of contrasting Madame Ratignolle’s candor against Edna’s reserved manner. It also serves as one of a few triggers that began to change how Edna views herself and the world around her.
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Paper Information
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Title: The Awakening: A Study
Words: 2410
Rating: None
Pages: 9.6
submitted by: ladzman421
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