Okay. So my title might be a little misleading, but as you read The Awakening, it is very obvious that Edna just wants more and more. In the beginning, it seems as if she is just disappointed in being in a marriage and having kids. She is more or less in love with Robert, and would rather have him as a husband in Leonce's place. This is all swell, however, as the novel progresses, Edna attempts to have a little more say in what is required of her. As she moves back into the city, she doesn't settle for anything less than what she wants. At times, we experience her becoming annoyed and throwing vases while stomping on her wedding ring, a temper tantrum which is no better than the kids she should be raising. Eventually, her children leave for Iberville while Leonce leaves for New York, leaving Edna to stay at home and do as she pleases. Shouldn't this make her happy? After all the book states, " When Edna was at last alone, she breathed a big, genuine sigh of relief" (Chopin, 97). She obviously made no attempt to raise her children, seeing as how " she would sometimes forget them" (Chopin 25) or be a good wife. "Once she stopped, and taking off her wedding ring, flung it upon the carpet. When she saw it lying there, she stamped her heel upon it, striving to crush it" (Chopin, 71). However, even after they leaves, she tells her husband that she's going to live on her own in a house around the block because, I believe that, she keeps wanting even more freedom and even more to call her own and even more to completely erase her title as a mother and wife. "Without even waiting for an answer from her husband regarding his opinion or wishes in the matter, Edna hastened her preparations for quitting her home on Esplanade Street and moving into the little house around the block" (Chopin 113). Even then, she still "felt the old ennui overtaking her (Chopin 120)" amidst her guests at her dinner party. To me, I start to wonder "When will she stop?' or "Will she ever be happy and content with her life?" Edna Pontellier is a peculiar one indeed, and world domination might not be far off on her "To-Achieve-And-Conquer-While-Getting-Rid-Of-My-Family List."Friday, February 19, 2016
Does Edna Secretly Want World Domination?
Okay. So my title might be a little misleading, but as you read The Awakening, it is very obvious that Edna just wants more and more. In the beginning, it seems as if she is just disappointed in being in a marriage and having kids. She is more or less in love with Robert, and would rather have him as a husband in Leonce's place. This is all swell, however, as the novel progresses, Edna attempts to have a little more say in what is required of her. As she moves back into the city, she doesn't settle for anything less than what she wants. At times, we experience her becoming annoyed and throwing vases while stomping on her wedding ring, a temper tantrum which is no better than the kids she should be raising. Eventually, her children leave for Iberville while Leonce leaves for New York, leaving Edna to stay at home and do as she pleases. Shouldn't this make her happy? After all the book states, " When Edna was at last alone, she breathed a big, genuine sigh of relief" (Chopin, 97). She obviously made no attempt to raise her children, seeing as how " she would sometimes forget them" (Chopin 25) or be a good wife. "Once she stopped, and taking off her wedding ring, flung it upon the carpet. When she saw it lying there, she stamped her heel upon it, striving to crush it" (Chopin, 71). However, even after they leaves, she tells her husband that she's going to live on her own in a house around the block because, I believe that, she keeps wanting even more freedom and even more to call her own and even more to completely erase her title as a mother and wife. "Without even waiting for an answer from her husband regarding his opinion or wishes in the matter, Edna hastened her preparations for quitting her home on Esplanade Street and moving into the little house around the block" (Chopin 113). Even then, she still "felt the old ennui overtaking her (Chopin 120)" amidst her guests at her dinner party. To me, I start to wonder "When will she stop?' or "Will she ever be happy and content with her life?" Edna Pontellier is a peculiar one indeed, and world domination might not be far off on her "To-Achieve-And-Conquer-While-Getting-Rid-Of-My-Family List."
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OK first off, I have to commend you sneaking in a Hamilton reference, you possess a true talent to stick Hamilton wherever you can, but now on to my comment. Julian, as you (and I as well as many others) know, the supreme court over the summer ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, only for thousands of people to pose the argument "What's next? Children marrying adults? People marrying animals? Incest?" and we all also know this is absolutely ludicrous. Doesn't this sound familiar? I don't think that your 'evidence' (If you call out of context quotes evidence) is enough to assume Edna wants world domination, which is a very extreme step, literally or figuratively. In the 1800's, there was a huge difference between how women were treated and I don't think you understand that. I'm not saying she should get whatever she wants, or throw tantrums, but I do have to kindly disagree with your statement that "...world domination might not be far off on her "To-Achieve-And-Conquer-While-Getting-Rid-Of-My-Family List." (Julian 1) Oh and by the way, correct me if I'm wrong, but next time you want to take only a piece of a sentence to prove your point, even if that piece will be taken out of context, I believe you start the quote with an ellipses. For example, "...I believe that she keeps wanting more freedom..." (what's so wrong with freedom. Julz?) :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind insight and congratulating my Hamilton reference. I am familiar with the restricted (and almost no) rights women had in that era. However, I feel I didn't explain enough. I used the exaggerated "world domination" as saying that it seems like Edna just wants more and more freedom. I feels she just takes and she takes and she takes(see what I did there) and she's nonstop (<-- I did it again). She's not taking a moment to actually stop and feel the happiness from what she's accomplished. She just keeps going. Ithink she should just take a break (I'm sorry. I had to) for a bit to be happy.
DeleteHamilton references aside, I agree with Alexa. There's nothing wrong with Edna wanting more freedom. Besides, it's not like she can gain much freedom in the time period she's in. Which is why I think she's striving for more, to be able to experience as much as she can, considering she hasn't felt free ever in her life, and she still isn't fully free. She doesn't consult with Leonce about her moving because she is her own person, as is her prerogative. Not to mention that her husband once literally left the home to go to a club to have dinner because he didn't like the way his soup was made so really, who's the childish one here?
ReplyDeleteHamilton references aside, I agree with Alexa. There's nothing wrong with Edna wanting more freedom. Besides, it's not like she can gain much freedom in the time period she's in. Which is why I think she's striving for more, to be able to experience as much as she can, considering she hasn't felt free ever in her life, and she still isn't fully free. She doesn't consult with Leonce about her moving because she is her own person, as is her prerogative. Not to mention that her husband once literally left the home to go to a club to have dinner because he didn't like the way his soup was made so really, who's the childish one here?
ReplyDeleteDear Julian, you're wrong. Let me tell you why. Firstly, are you a woman from 1899? Do you know how she feels? Obviously you don't. You seem to not have been looking closely enough or having compassion for the character. She doesn't want world domination, she wants freedom and individuality. She has never had these things and in the second half of the book she is grasping something she's never had, ever.
ReplyDeleteMy dearest Christina(that be a Hamilton reference), you and I both know that I am not a woman. However, I will not equivocate my opinion (another one). I believe that she gets what she wants, but then isn't happy with it. Like a child that gets a toy, plays with it for five minutes, then stores in a closet that the child doesn't open again, ever. And in case you didn't know, the book is written in mostly third person limited point of view, where we don't know exactly what she's thinking. None of us were in the room where it happened (that's three references). We don't know what's in her mind, but due to her actions it seems as though she will never be satisfied (four) with what she's got. She just wants more. She got away from her duties as a mother and wife, but was she happy? No. Maybe if she just wait for it (5) and realized she got a lot of what she wanted, she'd be happy. Then if she wanted more, she could go for it. But at the rate she's going, she'll never stop until she gets everything she possibly can out of life. Maybe the novel wouldn't end like it had, if she just took her time.
DeleteDear Julz, you're wrong. Dear Christina, youre right. Julz, "you seem to not have been looking closely enough or having compassion for the character," (Christina, comment above), as well as recognizing her romantic desires for Adele. She doesn't want world domination, she desires freedom and individuality bc she has never had these things.
DeleteDear Julz, you're wrong. Dear Christina, youre right. Julz, "you seem to not have been looking closely enough or having compassion for the character," (Christina, comment above), as well as recognizing her romantic desires for Adele. She doesn't want world domination, she desires freedom and individuality bc she has never had these things.
DeleteFunny how you disagree with me but then say how I also disagree with Edna and Adele when on Sophia's post this week you stated that Edna looks up to and admires (one of your key points on last weeks argument) Reisz more than Adele.
DeleteI agree with you Julian. Your post is very insightful, and I never thought about it this way. She shows these qualities through her constant search for more than she already has, but yet she doesn't take the time to admire the things that she already has
ReplyDeleteTHE HAMILTON REFERENCE YES I'M SO HAPPY. Also the title of this made me think of the cockroaches from Fairy Odd Parents. All silliness aside though, I think you're reading a little too deep into it. Edna doesn't want to power over the world, she wants power over herself.
ReplyDeleteAlso please don't start a comment battle to me as I am a weakling XD
DeleteI'll never fight against you Delaney. Only those that want to argue against everything I say
DeleteI definitely agree with you Julian. She never takes the time to step back and admire what she already has. She's in constant search of what more she can have and it's annoying to read after a while. She's just never satisfied and I think she has enough to be satisfied with.
ReplyDelete