Love or Hate Her Children??

            In the Victorian Era, it was a social norm for the wives to take care of the children. They were expected to take care of the house, and be faithful to their husbands. Unlike most of the wives, Edna Pontellier, didn’t pay close attention to her children. While most of the wives were making food for the luncheon, Mrs. Pontellier was at the beach, and not spending time with her children. Mrs. Pontellier states that “She was fond of her children in an uneven, impulsive way. She would sometimes gather them passionately to her heart; she would sometimes forget them.” (Chopin 25). It’s not that she hated her children, it’s just the fact that she doesn’t like the idea of having to care for them all the time. While she was sitting with Madame Ratignolle on the beach and her children came, she hardly acknowledges. She didn’t want to follow the traditional wife takes care of children, and husband comes back whenever he feels like. She doesn’t want to be viewed as a wife or mother, she wants to be viewed as an individual.