Mrs. Pontiller's freedom without children

Throughout the beginning of the story, Mrs. Pontillier is only known as that, Mrs. Pontillier. However, when she is alone, particularly without her children, she is usually introduced as Edna. This was used by Kate Chopin to show the sense of freed Edna felt without the burden of her children. We have already inferred that Edna wants to live without having to constantly be reminded of and live the typical role of a housewife, but we haven’t delved too deep into the realm of her relations with her children. She has rarely had any reaction with them throughout the story so far. The only time I can recall being that when she was reading the children a bedtime story, which was counterproductive and actually revved the children up even more-she didn’t even finish the story! As Kate Chopin has stated in the story, it isn’t the Edna doesn’t love her children, it is more that she doesn’t want to be burdened with having to take care of them. Also, Edna said that although she would give her life for her children, she wouldn’t give herself, which she says are two completely different things. The farther we go into the story, the more we learn about Edna and her relations with the rest of the family.