There were many characters to choose from and I chose Edna. Edna changes a lot throughout the book; from her attitude, behavior, and overall character. At the end of the book she sacrificed herself for her kids, family and love. Also, she forfeited herself to her husband, kids, and home. Every day she would stay home, take care of the kids and the house.
In the book, Edna didn’t have a job. It wasn’t a role for women to have jobs. The wives were expected to stay home; tend to the kids and the house. So that’s what she did while she watched her husband depart for days upon weeks for his job. He would leave her money and send home gifts for her and the kids. Reasonably she forfeited her life for her kids, her husband and house. She went out one night and her husband
…show more content…
She also sacrificed herself because of Robert. Over the summer, Edna developed a passion of love for Robert. But one day Robert left her a note saying he was leaving her. She got depressed and didn’t do anything. She eventually returned to Grande Isle hoping Robert would take her back. But he didn’t, so she then realized she doesn’t need to be in this world anymore. One day she wanted to go swimming on a cold day, but the sun was out according to Edna. Edna knew her limit and how far out she was able to swim. But she didn’t take that into consideration and she just kept swimming out farther and farther. Her legs and arms grew weaker. She knew she couldn’t swim anymore. She left everything behind; she didn’t take anything with her. She left all her clothes on shore and went in the water naked. She told the people in the house to not make any leftover food because she knew she wasn’t coming back. She sacrificed herself for her kids, her family and friends. She didn’t want to hurt anyone anymore. She also didn’t want to be hurt herself from other people. She committed suicide at the end of the
This shows how she wants to escape from her motherly responsibilities. In chapter eleven page 31, Edna realizes how she used to be so submissive and obedient to her husband. She is being told to come
After Edna goes to be with Adele Ratignolle during the birth of her child, Edna goes back home to the “pigeon-house” and finds that Robert is gone but he left a note for her. The note says, “Good-bye, because I love you…”. Robert leaves Edna this note saying that he has to leave her because he loves her too much. He realizes what he has done and how he feels about Edna but that Edna is married and has a family, therefore, he can not be with her.
She gets extra jealous when he writes to Madame Lebrun, but not to her. Later, Edna returns back home to New Orleans as a whole new woman. She declares herself independent, and tries to forget Robert by seeking out Alcee
Amanda Richardson Mrs. Schroder AP Literature and Composition 2 January 2018 1995 Based in the early 19th century, Enda, the protagonist of The Awakening is stuck in an era where she does not agree with the values nor culture that those around her are accustomed to. Through Edna’s “awakening” and drastically different values, Kate Chopin is able to alienate her from the surrounding society. Edna’s thoughts and actions create conflict in her relationships. Surrounding characters are unable to understand or provide justification towards Edna’s new found culture and values, isolating Edna. Due to this, characters unable to perceive the actions of The Awakening protagonist remain in a state of confusion as well as provide major disapproval.
After swimming successfully, she develops feelings for Robert. After this awakening, Edna starts to step back and rethink her entire life; her marriage, her role, and even herself. She realizes she feels sort of imprisoned in this life she has had for so long. 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
The Awakening by Kate Chopin Title The Awakening is related to Edna’s internal awakening that she has over the period of the book The Awakening was originally titled The Solitary Soul Setting New Orleans and The Grand Isle Genre Spiritual / artistic realization, romantic style Historical Information Kate Chopin 1850-1904 Father was Irish, Mother was French-American Bilingual- spoke both French and English Grew up in St.Louis Missouri Developed a passion for music at a young age Met and married Oscar
This means she has to move into a much smaller house, where she is alone. While this may seem like a huge sacrifice for most people, she doesn’t view it in this way. The oppression of her values that was inflicted upon in both that house and by her relationship her relationship with her husband meant that to Edna, leaving that house and situation was liberating and as if she had busted out of a
Women during Edna’s time were supposed to be dedicated to their husbands and children, however, Edna yearned for her own independence, and as a result of wanting her own independence Edna knew that she was seen as a terrible person. For instance Edna wanted to “…try to determine what character of a woman I am; for, candidly, I don't know. By all the codes which I am acquainted with, I am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can't convince myself that I am. I must think about it" (27.4).
Edna tries to satisfy this desire by taking part in an adulterous affair with Alcee Arobin, a known playboy. However, this relationship doesn’t satisfy Edna’s wish for companionship as she uses Alcee only to satisfy her sexual desires. This all changes once Edna meets Robert Lebrun, who invokes a sense of excitement and love in Edna. Edna sees her relationship with Robert as her only chance to gain freedom from the confines of society; additionally Robert gives Edna the chance to have a fulfilling relationship as opposed to her loveless one with Leonce. Although the two are deeply in love with one another, Robert is unable to reciprocate Edna’s desires to be together.
Edna even says herself, “I would give up the unessential…my money…my life for my children, but not myself.” For her life, Edna realized that means her marriage and physical life. As far as her marriage, Edna was never truly happy with her marriage with Leonce. Furthermore, Edna states she truly cares for her children, but sometimes her search for herself may conflict with this. This then further discourages readers even more due to the fact that this gives insight to her actions, and somewhat justifies them.
This quote from text describe that Edna only was happy when she distances herself from society. She was falling in love with man who yes loved her back, but in the end knew that best thing for both would be to be separated. In the story it said, "Robert was not waiting for her in the little parlor. He was nowhere at hand. The house was empty.
Edna’s perspective on this shows after she and Robert have finally confessed their love for each other. Robert, a man, immediately suggests that they ask Mr. Pontellier, Edna’s husband, to set Edna free. Only then would Robert, Edna’s new man, be able to marry Edna. Edna bristles, saying, “I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier’s possessions to dispose of or not. I give myself where I choose.
Edna’s realization is that she is not a typical woman. She has specific wants and needs for herself that will be impossible to be met if she continues with the lifestyle she is currently living. She knows she can not support Leonce or their children in the ways society feels she should, so she decides mutually with Leonce to move out of the family house and live on her own… away from the kids, and away from Leonce. It is a time that she will really get to try to figure herself out. While she is away she starts experimenting sexually, not only with other men, but even with other women.
Robert leaves because he believes nothing can change. That him and Edna can never be together. He leaves her one last note and goes. Edna doesn't drown herself because of Robert, though Robert helped her decide to do it. He opened her eyes and Edna sees this awful world she is apart of.
A woman with an independent nature can be described as rebellious, passionate, and courageous. In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, the reader is introduced to Edna Pontellier, a female who epitomizes the qualities of a woman with such an independent nature. Living in a “patriarchal society” that expects women to be nothing more than devoted wives and nurturing mothers, Edna attempts to seek out her true identity as it becomes apparent how unsettled she feels about her life. Throughout The Awakening, Edna Pontellier, dissatisfied with her duties as a mother and wife, decides to pursue her own interests and express her true identity, resulting in an awakening and her finding the courage to make the changes she deems as necessary. Edna Pontellier had two young boys, Etienne and Raoul, who were ages four and five, respectively.