What is an ideal marriage?

In the early stages of the novel that Chopin is setting for us, it is pretty obvious to gather that Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier do not have what is seen to be the ideal marriage for this time period. However, there are some key factors to analyze as to why this is. First off, as demonstrated on page 8, Mrs. Pontellier is weeping on the porch essentially because she feels the absence of her husband's kindness, after she only gives him half answered responses in regards to her children's well being. This leads me to believe that they don't necessarily have an argumentative marriage, rather there is just simply a lack of effort being put in. Especially regarding Mrs. Pontellier and her children, because the last time I checked, your children are a pretty big deal to you, and when one of them does not feel well, such as Raoul who claimed to have a fever, you should be more worried about that then Mrs. Pontellier is. In my opinion, this marriage is like trying to put two positive ends of a magnet together, it just won't happen.

Kate Chopin= Pontellier and Mrs. Mallard

In both “The Awakening” and “The Story of an Hour” Kate Chopin made an unprivileged female living in the nineteenth century her main character. In both of Chopin’s works, the character has conflict involving the love between her and her husband. In “The Story of an Hour” it’s stated, “Often, she had loved him sometimes; often she had not.” (Chopin 2)  This, talking about Mrs. Mallard's’ feelings for Mr. Mallard, could possibly relate to Kate Chopin’s personal relationship with her husband. Chopin was put into a marriage in which she didn’t especially want to be in. For the most part, her husband adored her and gave her a fair amount of freedom at that time. Chopin might have felt, just like Mrs. Mallard, she wasn’t completely free while with her husband. But when Chopin’s husband died, she was left with debt, and five children to care for, giving her little time to be free. This could relate to Edna Pontellier’s parenting; or lack thereof. Considering that Chopin has an arranged marriage, she might have secretly been unhappy, hence why all of her characters have similar struggles to her. 

The Awakening Post #1

After reading chapters one through seven of the book “The Awakening”, I have come to discover that the main character is going through a sort of internal conflict. The main character, Mrs. Pontellier, yet a kind woman, was not a “mother-woman” (Chopin 51). She had been delegated the position of raising children and taking care of her husband, for which she did not truly want. As presented multiple times in the story so far, Mrs. Pontellier clearly had not fit in with the conventional life of the Creole community, though she was quite aware of her standing. “Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her.” (Chopin 57). This quote shows that Mrs. Pontellier is aware of her surroundings and social standing, or is at least willing to give it thought. Also quoted from Chopin, (56) “Edna Pontellier could not have told why, wishing to go to the beach with Robert, she should in the first place have declined, and in the second place have followed in obedience to one of the two contradictory impulses which impelled her.” Edna had given in to one of her conflicts. This conflict had been a question of a friendship with Robert, or her children. Not positive why, Edna had chosen her friend over her children. This is yet another example of her struggle not being a “mother-woman” living the life of one. 

Examination of sympathy and foreshadowed romance(?)

Throughout the early chapters of The great Awakening, the author uses the word “sympathy” in an unfamiliar way. Instead of using it as a word to express pity, sympathy is used as a synonym of love. We first see this when Robert attempts to receive sympathy from madame Ratignolle. Robert was not trying to receive her pity, he was vying for her love. This same structure is represented later, and is directly addressed. When Mrs. Pontellier and madame Ratignolle are escaping to the beach together, the author describes their bond, “ Then the candor of the woman’s whole existence, which every one might read, and which formed so striking a contrast to her own habitual reserve - this might have furnished a link. Who can tell what metals the gods use in forging the subtle bond which we call sympathy, which we might call love.”

This passage not only shows that the author continues to use sympathy as an equivalent for love, but also possibly foreshadows a deeper relationship between the two. Further evidence of a romantic relation is provided when  the pair arrive at the beach house, when Madame Ratignolle caresses Mrs. Pontellier affectionately. A possible romance could be foreshadowed in this scene.

Kate Chopin reflects her personal opinions in "The Awakening"

Kate Chopin was an extremely progressive writer for her time period. Most of her stories pertained to the fact the she didn’t want to live of to society’s expectations, but her own. These ideas can be put across in her story, The Awakening. Through the parts of the story I have read so far, Mrs. Pontillier doesn’t show the typical nature of what was expected of a women. For instance, she rarely had any dialouge with her husband in the first few chapters, even the first time we see them together in the story, they’re almost silent . “She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands, and surveyed them critically, drawing up her fawn sleeves above the wrists. Looking at them reminded her of her rings, which she had given to her husband before leaving for the beach. She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm.” simply from that we can already see the poor state of their marriage. The distance most likely created by Mrs. Pontillier (who has made her unwillingness to conform not only to her gender roles but also to basic wife/motherly roles obvious) is also affecting how Mr. Pontillier acts, who does not coming home until late at night. In my opinion, these two are more in need of marriage counseling than I am in need if money. I’m broke and have expensive tastes, so that’s saying something.

Weak Marraige

“There is no bad marriage or relationship...there are only matching or non-matching characters…”(unknown). This is exactly what happened in Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier’s marriage. Like the quote says there is no bad marriage, you may just not be right for each other. From what I have read, Mr. Pontellier and Mrs. Pontellier might not be right for each other. Maybe Mr. Pontellier just accepted her for her dowry, maybe they thought it would work but got tired of each other. Mr. Pontellier did not care about Mrs. Pontellier the way a married couple should. A husband should care about his wife and do anything possible to keep her, this is not the case for them. The time period factors into this because back then you did not have to love the person you married, you could marry them just for their gifts.

Unhealthy Marriage Arrangements: In the Style of the Pontelliers

                Love is supposed to be felt and chosen by your heart, not by another person’s desire. And it is evident in The Awakening by Kate Chopin that the arranged relationship and marriage between Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier is nowhere near a perfect match. One of the key factors in a happy and healthy relationship is communication and common interests. And in the Pontellier relationship, neither of these characteristics are visible. “He thought it very discouraging that his wife … evinced so little interest in things that concerned him, and valued so little his conversation” (Chopin 48). When in only few pages before, Chopin discusses Mrs. Pontellier’s engrossing conversation with Robert Lebrun, “Each was interested in what the other said.” (Chopin 46). It is ironic that Mrs. Pontellier converses with a young stranger with whom she seems to possibly be attracted to and get along well with, rather than speaking a word to her husband, with whom she shares a family and a home with.

                The real question is, what is running through Mrs. Pontelliers mind? And with her being such a strong and independent female character, what will these possible positive feelings for Robert and extreme negative feelings toward her husband lead her to do?

Mrs. Pontellier's Failure to Escape

Mrs. Pontellier often loses herself in thought while looking out at big bodies of water. As she relaxes on the beach with Madame Ratignolle, she says the sight of the water makes her think of “a meadow that seemed as big as the ocean to the very little girl walking through the grass…” (Chopin 60). And when asked what she was doing in the grass, she says, “I was running away from prayers” (Chopin 60). Her comparison of the ocean to the meadow lets the reader know that she regards the water as a means of escape from the troubles in her life. Her inability to swim, despite multiple attempts, symbolizes her failed efforts to escape from being a mother, a wife, and also an outsider in the society. However, one night, she walks into the water and finds that she is able to swim. She swims far out, “reaching out for the unlimited in which to lose herself” (Chopin 74). Surprisingly, the water, which she once viewed as seductive and comforting, now gives her “a quick vision of death” (Chopin 74). She loses faith and is brought back to reality. She realizes that she cannot escape from her problems and responsibilities don’t disappear just because she wants them to.

https://youtu.be/HBVAAPro02U 

Kate Chopin and Loneliness

Kate Chopin is well known for being an advocate for women's rights during the 1800's. However, while reading her novel, The Awakening, I noticed that Chopin has a reoccurring theme of loneliness in her writings. It's nothing major as of yet, but it's there nonetheless. For example, in The Awakening, Edna Pontellier shows a sign of loneliness as she leaves the sea, leaving the others in the water, to go home and lay on the hammock. As she discusses with Robert, there is a moment of silence in which Edna states, " No multitude of words could have been more significant than those moments of silence, or more pregnant with the first-felt throbbings of desire" (Chopin 40-41). She sits alone on the hammock, not answering immediately as Robert and her husband attempt to talk to her. In addition to Edna, Louise Mallard from The Story of An Hour also shows loneliness. For a majority of the short story, Louise is seen in a closed room, staring outside a window. No interaction is made between her and anyone at all, save the beginning and end where she briefly discusses with her sister. Why are her characters secluded and distant from the world? Perhaps, it's due to Chopin, herself, being lonely. Her writings were rejected during her life and didn't have many supporters. This could have left her in a position where she felt she needed loneliness. As stated in http://evolutionofwomenscitizenship.weebly.com, "As the century moved on women got a little lonely at home,"(Zecic, Kimura, Adomaitis). Are her characters reflecting Chopin and her inner loneliness? Or could her characters be lonely for an entirely different reason, yet to be unveiled? Only time will tell.

Edna and Leonce: Who is where in the marriage?

The Pontellier marriage is one in need of discussion. Though most people highlight Mrs. Pontellier's unhappiness in the marriage, There is not much scrutiny upon Mr. Pontellier's stance in the marriage and the role he plays. It's already been evident Mrs. Pontellier's feelings on her children. She loves them, but only to a degree, as noted by her negligence when regarding her two little boys. Mr. Pontellier however, appears to dote on his children. "...he loved them very much, and went... to take a look at them and make sure that they were resting comfortably." (Chopin 7). Leonce Pontellier is a well liked man and is very popular among his peers. "Mr. Pontellier was a great favorite, and ladies, men, children, even nurses, were always on hand to say good-by to him." (Chopin 9). Very early in the book, Edna Pontellier recognizes that her husband, albeit not in love with her, cares for her and is kind in the marriage. Leonce also seems to want Edna to put more effort into the marriage, despite not contributing any himself, other than his disappointment in Edna.

Edna is a big believer in fate. "She did not sit there inwardly upbraiding her husband, lamenting at Fate, which had directed her footsteps to the path which they had taken." (Chopin 8). One could interpret this as Edna wanting to relieve herself of blame, or regret. Perhaps she believes that it was only "Fate"'s doing that brought her into this loveless, routine marriage, not herself. One could also interpret that Leonce treats the marriage as if it is something he is doing out of duty, not out of his own volition. He is kind and fair, as fair as he possibly can be in this era, but he looks at Edna, not as his wife, the person he should love, but as his property, something to be taken care of only so that it may reflect well on him. For Edna, the marriage is a room confined with responsibilities that she arguably has no desire to do. For Leonce, however, the marriage is something resembling a chore: needing work to get to the end result.

Bad Marriage

Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier show signs of having a bad marriage from the beginning of the novel. Mrs. Pontellier arrives home from the beach with Robert Lebrun and it makes me wonder if she is having an affair with Robert. Mr. Pontellier regards the two of them together with disinterest. If I saw my wife with another man I would be angry and would question, why they were together. “…looking at his wife as one who looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage,” (Chopin 3). There is not one woman who wants to be looked at as personal property. Mr. Pontellier thinks he owns Mrs. Pontellier. He knows, even though she will do whatever she pleases, she will still come home and act like the perfect wife. “She did not sit there inwardly upbraiding her husband, lamenting at Fate, which had directed her footsteps to the path which they had taken,” (Chopin 8). Mrs. Pontellier claims that was not the reason why she was crying, but we can infer that she has thoughts about how she ended up with Mr. Pontellier. At the end of Chapter 3, Mrs. Pontellier forces herself to agree with the ladies that Mr. Pontellier is the best husband in the world. This shows their marriage is not based on love and trust.       

Edna vs Motherhood

In the first two chapters of the book they express how Edna feels like her life is a prison. Especially her part about being a mother. She feels that her motherhood is some kind of trap that she can't get out of. She feels like she is not free to do what ever she wants. In the beginning she isn't interacting with her children what so ever. Her husband is watching them play and she is talking a walk on the beach with this person who's mother owns the vacation spot where they are. Then when the husband comes back from the hotel he goes in and checks his son Raoul which who's name we do not learn until the husband mentions it, tells his wife that he thought he had a fever. She then sits there for a couple seconds and then goes outside to sit on the porch and cry. See this shows she feels trapped within her life. We didn't find out the name of the son from her we found it out fro her drunk husband. Also, at the beginning she barely interacts with her kids. She also, mentions the kids as them or they. The father refers to them as the boys or the kids. He cares for his boys and she really doesn't have a very close relationship with her children. She goes out on the porch at the end of chapter and cries because she hates her position in life. She feels that this thing with her family is holding her back from what she could be doing out there in the world. She feels confined to spend the rest of her life with this man and these children. Also, she sat on the porch and talked to the man she was walking on the beach with. This just shows in these two little paragraphs how disinterested she is in family life and how she feels like being trapped or imprisoned in a place that you cannot get out of.
So that is what Kate Chopin is trying to show how that a character living in this time period would think that in a family you are just a piece of property and how you could have inconsequential feelings toward your family.

It would appear that within the beginning of the book, Kate Chopin may be using birds to foreshadow grief for a character. Before an event that may end badly or cause grief for a character took place a type of bird was mentioned. This can be seen at least twice within the beginning of the book. “A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over: ‘Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! That’s all right!” (Chopin 1). This happens not long before Mr. Pontellier sees his wife with Robert Lebrun and gets jealous of them. To the point of which he left for a hotel to stay at and did not return until late at night after dinner. After Mr. Pontellier’s return, we see again the grief of a character being foreshadowed. “There was no sound abroad except the hooting of an old owl in the top of a water-oak,” (Chopin 8). Right after the paragraph this line is a part of Mrs. Pontellier begins to cry possibly over the recent pressure in her life that can be drawn back to her married life. Both of these times a specific bird was mentioned and both times something generally bad happened to a character emotionally. It seems that Chopin is saying something about the environments we are subjected to or subject ourselves to.

Kids

       Edna Pontellier wasn’t the number one mom everybody thought she was. She puts herself before her kids and husband, which was frowned upon in the nineteenth century. On page seven is the first time a kids name is mentioned, beforehand the author wrote it as kids referring that they weren't the top priority in her life, unlike how her husband and Robert are mentioned. Considering in just the first few chapters Edna focuses more on Robert than her own offspring. Edna is content to let the nurse do the normal burdens of motherhood while Mr.Pontellier is unsatisfied with Edna’s lack of affection towards the children.”In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman”.(Chopin 10) Edna Pontellier could be characterized as Kate Chopin. Having 6 children and no husband Chopin might have not done a spectacular job at being a mother. Chopin also could have been unhappy in her marriage but could not tell anyone so she discussed it through Edna Pontellier.

What Is Love?

What is love exactly? Merriam Webster dictionary defines love as, “A feeling of strong or constant affection for a person,” (Merriam Webster). However, both The Awakening and The Story of An Hour test this definition of love.

                In The Story of An Hour, Mrs. Mallard briefly believes her husband is dead and imagines a whole new life of freedom for herself. At first, we think she loves him, “She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and grey and dead,” (Chopin). However, she then adds, “And yet she loved him – sometimes. Often she had not,” (Chopin).

                In The Awakening, Edna is having a good time laughing with a man in town named Robert. Even though her husband, Mr. Pontellier, saw these flirtatious acts, he simply got up to tell the children he was going out for the evening. As he was walking away, Edna asked him if he was staying for dinner, in response, “He hauled a moment and shrugged his shoulders…perhaps he would…perhaps he would not. It all depended on the company he found over at Klein’s,” (Chopin, 3).

                As you can see, both The Awakening and The Story of An Hour test the definition of love and make us question if these characters actually loved each other or not.

Kate Chopin The Great Awakening and The Story of an Hour

When Kate Chopin wrote the book "The Great Awaking" and the short story "The Story of an Hour"They both show many relations to each other. The relationship between the two character in ways are very similar. Edna Pontilleier and Lousie Mallard are both from the same time era in history. They are from a time when woman were not seen as anything other then a piece of property to their husbands and a person to take care of their children. I wouldn't even consider that a mother because you don't have a very well relation with your children as for the book it even shows how Mrs. And Mr. Pontilleier's children seem to have a better relationship with their nanny. As for your husband if you were lucky you ended up loving each  or hopefully have some type of feeling for each other but if you didn't that is  how you had to live for the rest of your life. In the story "The Story of an Hour" Mrs. Mallard as we know has a husband but she has just been informed that he has died in an accident. At first she is a sad woman crying, but then she goes up to her room and something happens. She turns into Louis she believes she isn't owned anymore she can finally go see the world instead of being locked in a small box of a house. Just like Edna when she is away from Mr. Pontilleier and with her friend Robert. Then both at different moments feel they have the relief of not being trapped and feeling as owned they become their own person and are finally able to express their  views and their own perspective of the world.

Robert VS Edna

The Awakening by Kate Chopin reflects upon the limited rights of women at the very beginning of the book. In chapter 2, Robert and Edna (who in fact was referred to as Mrs. Pontellier throughout this whole portion) shared an introductory conversation describing their lives and ambitions. Robert "talked a good deal about himself" (pg 5), going on about his vacations, strife for Mexico, and his job as clerk and correspondent because he knows three languages- English, French, and Spanish. Edna describes her life......kinda. Well, she really just talks about the lives of people around her. "Mrs. Pontellier talked about her father's Mississippi plantation......read a letter from her sister, who was away in the East, and who had engaged herself to be married" (pg 5). However, the last detail about her sister is significant because of the fact that it proves the act of arranged marriages between women by their families during this time period. Women in the novel so far are seen as limited and by reading further on, Chopin hints at plenty of  more inequality between the genders.

Edna Pontellier's "Duty"

 As soon as I opened The Awakening by Kate Chopin it was evident that the main character, Edna, sees motherhood and marriage as more of a task than something she did out of love.

An example of her distaste towards being a parent is found on page two-- the first mention of the children: “Mr. Pontellier’s” two children were there…” (Chopin 2). So far, the reader has only been introduced to Mr. Pontellier, not Edna, leaving them to think he is a single father. I believe this was done by Chopin to foreshadow the fact Edna never wanted to be a mother in the first place.

A bit after we are introduced to Edna finally, we see a drunken Mr. Pontellier telling her how to be a wife/mother/woman (those appear to be all synonyms to him), as he thinks it is her, “...duty…” (Chopin 10). After his rant he goes to bed, leaving his wife crying, which apparently, “..was not uncommon in her married life” (Chopin 8). Chopin puts it right out in the open that Edna was not very happy in her marriage, and that it wasn’t what she wanted for her life.

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.

                        

No Emotion

In The Awakening by Kate Chopin, it’s hard to have an emotional connection with the main character, Edna Pontellier. Not much about her is revealed so it’s difficult to feel any remorse for her. Kate Chopin writes this way as a way of making the reader constantly look for more: wondering if we’ll ever be able to get into the dirty little details of Edna. Little information about Edna is given, “Mrs. Pontellier’s eyes were quick and bright: they were a yellowish brown about the color of her hair,” (Chopin 4). It’s hard not to feel detached from Edna because the novel is written in third person. There isn’t any information about her personality or her views which are usually shown in first person point of view novels.

Copin does not give much detail about any character and this is because she wants the reader to have their own opinion of them. She expects each reader to view each character differently and judge them based on their own knowledge and experience. There is suspected cheating between Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier. Chopin doesn’t put in any opinion of the situation because she wants the reader to form their own. If one reader has been cheated on they might feel sorrow for Mr. Pontellier. If the reader hasn’t been cheated on, they might feel neutral on the topic. Kate Chopin makes sure that the characters are detached and closed off so readers can form their own opinions. 

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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.

Although this book was written in the nineteenth century, it still carries themes that are expressed in modern day music. The two main characters in The Awakening by Kate Chopin are a married couple. When considering their vibe, their marriage seemed planned or forced because the spouses do not communicate well together. "He thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation," (Chopin). This reminds me of the song "Already Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier may have been okay with their marriage at first, but now with kids and a continuous stressful energy, their relationship is nothing but negative. The topic of an unsettling relationship is described in Kelly Clarkson's song. As Clarkson states, "Remember all the things we wanted; Now all our memories, they're haunted; We were always meant to say goodbye," (1-3). 

http://youtu.be/f0T3WAbU6tg

The Weight of Kids

Edna Pontellier is not the "mother-type". She would much rather go out and party considering she is an American woman, living in a Creole culture. For the first time, the Pontellier's children's names are said on page 7 of novel. Before hand, they had been referred to as her kids, because she really feels no responsibility, although Chopin describes, "She could not have told why she was crying." (Chopin 8). The occurs after Mr. Pontellier says that his one son, Raoul has a fever, and Edna said that he had been fine all day while playing with his brother, who's name at the time is still unsaid. It is shown that she is not the mother-type by the actions towards her kids. She really doesn't acknowledge them because they have a nanny, and she even doesn't even notice if one is sick or not. One of the characters, Robert, has more interactions with the children then Edna does. He plays Croquet wit them and enjoys himself while she just sits there. 

Victimization

      So far in the novel, people tend to victimize Mrs. Pontellier. She is viewed as a woman who is degraded in her skill level and intellectual promise. She is also viewed as a stay-at-home mother who wants to do more with her life than take care of children and clean their home. While I agree with these views, I also think that Mr. Pontellier is typically seen as a controlling husband who doesn’t care what his wife does.  “He did not know perhaps he would return from the early dinner and perhaps he would not,” (Chopin 3). He was supposed to go and meet his pals for a game of billiards, and wasn’t sure how long the game would last. This could also be interpreted as Mr. Pontellier did not want to come home to eat dinner with his wife and children, and maybe he didn’t.
In this time period, it wasn’t ideal to marry the person you loved. You married to get the best deal for you and your family. Of course there were those few cases of the ones who did marry for love, but it was rare. In the novel, Mr. Pontellier is also a victim. He doesn’t seem to be in love with his wife, but he still does things for her when she asks. She asked him to hold her rings while she goes to “hang out” with Robert in the gulf, and he obliges with no problem. “She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm,” (3). At least they had developed an understanding, when many others may have had nothing but constant arguing. In this era, you had to make the most out of what you had. He shouldn’t be victimized for not being in love with his wife because she doesn’t seem to be in love with him either.

Edna Pontellier: Woman or Mother?

Edna Pontellier is more of just a woman, rather than a mother or a wife. Kate Chopin says, “The mother-women seemed to prevail that summer at grand isle. It is easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood.” (Page 10) From this quote the wings of a woman can be linked to the symbolism of birds as earlier mentioned. The “mother-women” are most commonly anticipated to use their wings to only shield and aid their families not to be independent and fly on their own. Chopin relates “winged-women” with imprisonment rather than freedom. Edna Pontellier, on the contrary from most women at Grand Isle, does not spread her wings as much to help her children or her husband. It also talks about how the children often fall and get hurt, but they get right back up, brushing away the dirt and wiping away the tears and going on with their play, while Edna just sits at a far distance and notices but has no reaction. Whereas most mother-women would run and fondle their children for every little pain they felt. All in all, Edna Pontellier is revealed to only be suitable as a woman rather than a mother. 

Blog post 1

Kate Chopin's The Awakening features Edna Pontellier as the main character and is set in the Grand Isle off the coast of Louisiana during the nineteenth century. Edna is not your average house kept maiden and very unaccustomed to the creole culture that surrounds her. Even a somewhat close friend of hers, Adele Ratignolle, warns Robert not to get infatuated with her. Stating that," She is not one of us; she is not like us. She might make the unfortunate blunder of taking you seriously."(Chopin 26) This statement of hers really describes the dilemma of Edna's and how quite misplaced she is among so many people that are essentially like family and all know one another. She stands out like a sore thumb.

Edna's character is also much of a conflict because the more you read the more you start to agree that she is misplaced looking at how she acts and how she treats her family handles her responsibilities etcetera. It seems as though she does not even love her children and isn't quite fit nor ready to be locked into the job of being a wife and mother. Spending part of the summer with grandmother Pontellier feeling the following of her children," Their absence was a sort of relief, though she did not admit this, even to herself. It seemed to free her of a responsibility which she had blindly assumed and for which Fate had not fitted her."(Chopin 25) Her carelessness towards her children play a role in why her husband gets so angry at her somewhere deep down he does love this woman as his wife and the mother of her children but just because she carried and bore them doesn't fully make her a mother.