Oblivious

Mr. Pontellier seeks help from a doctor to better understand his wife in chapter 22. He is having a difficult time understanding Edna’s new “Awakening” and he needs someone to help him better interpret what she’s going through. He gets help from an old friend and family physician named Doctor Mandelet. Mr. Pontellier speaks his mind and says, “I came to consult – no, not precisely to consult – to talk to you about Edna. I don’t know what ails her,” (Chopin 88). Mr. Pontellier knows about Robert and Edna’s closeness but doesn’t seem to think her acting odder than usual has to do with Robert being in Mexico. This is strange because if I was in his position, the first thing I would think of is an affair between the two “friends.” Mr. Pontellier has been oblivious to Edna having some feelings for Robert, and if he is that oblivious to something so large, what else is he not seeing?

Doctor Mandelet replies with, “Let her stay among her own people for a while; it will do her good,” (Chopin 89). Edna doesn’t want to be around people right now. She wants to be secluded. If she can’t see Robert, she will see no one.