Edna starts to test how much control she really has of how she lives when Mr.Pontellier comes to the cottage late at night and finds her outside on the hammock. He tells her it's one in the morning and basically demamds that she has to come inside with him. Edna stands up to Mr.Pontellier for the first time in their marriage. She even states “ I mean to stay out here. I don't wish to go in, and I don't intend to. Don't speak to me like that again; I shall not answer you.Eventually the pressure of situation sinks in, and the uncomfortable hammock she began to head up back to the house. As she goes inside to bed Mr.Pontellier bumps his ego even more with his comment that he will go to bed after he finishes his cigar. I believe he want to prove that he can choose what his bedtime is or isn't. Edna doesn't have that choose because of the boundaries a women has during this time.
I can see how she's starting to lose her patience with him, finally snapping when he's being rude to her. I agree when you say she's testing her control because you could obviously tell that he's starting to walk on thin ice with her. Just because she's a woman, doesn't mean she needs to be bossed around.
ReplyDeleteGood observation tori. It's good to see Edna Sticking up for herself. But, I feel like this could also get her introuble w the people around her. During this time a wife Must be submissive and Edna clearly is not. I think the people around her are going to suspect something
ReplyDeleteI think the more Mr. Pontellier tries to control her the more she'll rebel against him. That might also push her towards Robert. I think people will eventually realize she's not like other women.
ReplyDeleteI like this. There comes a point where everyone has to speak up for themselves, and I can also see why she's waited this long to do so. In those times it was very frowned upon to go against your husbands wishes. Just like in the first few chapters when he doesn't know if he would come home for dinner, she had no control to tell him to be back and eat as a family.
ReplyDeleteI think that Mr. Pontellier was justified in telling Edna, his wife, that she should not be out late at night. He told her for her sake and for her safety, not necessarily because he wants to control her. As for the cigar, I think that was Mr. Pontellier's way of relieving stress and portraying his masculinity. Through the entirety of the book, Mr. Pontellier is shown smoking, especially before bedtime.
ReplyDelete