Mrs. Pontellier and Madame Ratignolle

I think Mrs. Pontellier and Madame Ratignolle have an interesting friendship. I think Kate Chopin has them spend a lot of time together in the beginning of the book to show the differences between the two. However, besides their differences, I think they really do like each other. Chopin writes, "Madame Ratignolle was very fond of Mrs. Pontellier, and often she took her sewing and went over to sit with her in the afternoons...But she did not want to appear unamiable and uninterested, so she had brought forth newspapers," (page 11). This shows the differences between Madame Ratignolle and Mrs. Pontellier and their lifestyles. Madame Ratignolle acts exactly like a Creole woman while Mrs. Pontellier pretends to. This also shows their friendship because Madame Ratignolle does not have to spend time with her but chooses to. Chopin also writes, "The action was at first a little confusing to Edna, but she soon lent herself to the Creole's gentle caress. She was not accustomed to an outward and spoken expression of affection, either in herself or others," (page 22). Madame Ratignolle had taken Mrs. Pontellier's hand while they were talking showing that Madame Ratignolle is more friendly and open while Mrs. Pontellier is more introverted. This portrays how they were raised as well as who they are now. The quote is suggesting that Mrs. Pontellier had not had many moments in her life where people had openly showed affection towards her. Madame Ratignolle seems like she was raised to treat others kindly or through her life had become as friendly as she is now.