Edna's Guardian Angel

In chapter 4 of The Awakening by Kate Chopin, another character steps into the scene: Adele Ratignolle. Madame Ratignolle is adored by Edna, and she loves Edna just the same. She is seen as a perfect, saintly type person. My belief is that Ratignolle is a guardian angel, or perhaps a “reincarnation” of Edna’s late mother, who, “...died when [she] was quite young” (pg 23).

For one,  Mrs. Pontellier says that Adele has, “...spun-gold hair… blue eyes that were like nothing but sapphires…” (pg 11) and that she was, “...growing a little stout…” (pg 11). This description very much reminds me of a cherub: one of the little baby angels often seen in renaissance era paintings which further proves my thought that Chopin made Adele a symbol for a guardian angel.

Another example of Madame Ratignolle’s guardian-like appearance is her outfits. Chopin always seems to write Adele wearing white. For example, on page 16, Chopin says she is wearing, “...white skirts…” and on page 19-20, “she was dressed in pure white…” White clothing is often what angels are pictured wearing, which I believe is no coincidence, but instead purposely done by Chopin.

    Lastly, Edna continuously refers to her as a, “...Madonna” (pg 14&15). To refer back to the renaissance, a painting of the “Madonna” was usually a painting of Saint Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus Christ. Not only does Edna see her as this pure, saintly being but now she also sees her as this perfect example of a mother. Chopin makes Madame Ratignolle the mother Pontellier never had and the mother she wants to be.