Mr and Mrs Pontellier

Both Mr and Mrs Pontellier seem like they have fallen out of love with each other. In the time this book was written, most marriages were arranged by the couple's fathers. Because of this, it is expected that their relationship would be different than those now, when people can choose who they want to marry. ""You are burnt beyond recognition," he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage"(Chopin 44). This is the way he looked at his wife as she walked up with a handsome, younger man. Rather than being concerned or upset about this, he just noticed her worn out appearance and views her as "damaged goods". When Mr. Pontellier comes home from playing billiards and is talking to his wife, she is giving short answers or not answering at all. She sobs after midnight after he falls asleep, probably because of how unhappy she is with her husband. Or maybe it's because of the guilt she has for potentially cheating on him with Robert.

Mrs. Pontellier and Mrs. Mallard

Edna Pontellier and Louise Mallard have their similarities. They both aren’t satisfied with their husbands, and they want more out of their life. Louise had always been under the control of her husband, Brently Mallard. When she hears he died she is, in a way, joyful that now she has her freedom, and more opportunities. However, once she sees him and realizes he’s not dead, she has a heart attack from the mere thought of being with him, again. Edna and her husband, Léonce Pontellier, don’t have a compassionate relationship; it seems very bleak. Edna starts spending time with a man named Robert Lebrun. "'Well, send him about his business when he bores you, Edna,’ instructed her husband as he prepared to leave" (Chopin 45). Mr. Pontellier doesn’t show any emotion or second thoughts about leaving his wife with another man. I predict she will have an affair with Robert, since there’s no love and affection in her actual marriage. Edna and Louise were in marriages that made them unhappy, and they seem very content with the thought of being without their spouse.

The Awakening-Kate Chopin Post #1

The Awakening by Kate Chopin took place during the late nineteenth century. During this time period, society was restricted. People didn’t get to pick who they got to marry, and even if they didn’t actually love the person, they would have to spend the rest of their lives with them. In the beginning of the book, Edna Pontellier is sitting under a sunshade, conversing and laughing it up with a man named Robert Lebrun while her husband watches from a distance. She is aware that he is there, and she even walks over to her husband with Robert with her. Mr. Pontellier mentions to them that they have sunburn, and they tell him their story from their walk on the beach. Also, when they are talking to Mr. Pontellier, Edna puts out her hands for her husband to place her rings back on her fingers. “It was some utter nonsense; some adventure out there in the water, and they both tried to relate it at once. It did not seem half so amusing when told. They realized this, and so did Mr. Pontellier. He yawned and stretched himself. Then he got up, saying he had half a mind to go over to Klein’s hotel and play a game of billiards” (Chopin 3). With this, it seems she does not care what the husband will think about her talking to Robert, and Mr. Pontellier seems to not have a concern about what they are doing together. He just says goodbye to his children and goes off by himself.

Bad Relationship

In the time period that the novel takes place, women and men did not marry out of love. The fathers of the man and woman would negotiate a deal and make an arranged marriage without them even having a say in what was going to happen. In The Awakening, you can clearly see this by the way Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier act towards each other in just the first couple chapters. "'Well, send him about his business when he bores you, Edna," instructed her husband as he prepared to leave" (Chopin 3). When Robert decides to stay and chat with Mrs. Pontellier while Mr. Pontellier decides to leave, her husband doesn't seem to care that they were going to be left alone together and just tells her to send him away once she was done talking with him. This proves that the two do not have a strong relationship and it clearly is not out of love because if it was, he would have reacted out of jealousy and anger instead of boredom and carelessness.  

Kate Chopin = Mrs. Pontellier

There are many similarities between Kate Chopin and Mrs. Pontellier in the novel The Awakening. We can see this from the start. Kate Chopin herself grew up in the country in St. Louis, Missouri. Likewise to that is Mrs. Pontellier, “Mrs. Pontellier talked about her father’s Mississippi plantation and her childhood home in old Kentucky blue-grass country.” (Chopin 5). Both of these women grew up in rural areas. Thus, Mrs.Pontellier’s past must be based on Kate Chopin’s past. Also in the novel it states, “ She was an American women, with a small infusion of French…” (Chopin 5). Just like Kate Chopin this women has a french background. To be more specific, they both were acquainted with the creole culture. Lastly, I believe Mrs. Pontellier is living out Kate Chopin’s  desire of feminism. This is clearly seen by the way Mrs. Pontellier treats her husband in later chapters. When Mr. Pontellier asks (mostly ordering) Edna if she is coming to bed, she replies, “No; I am going to stay out here.” (Chopin 42). This is an act of defiance which Kate lives out through Mrs. Pontellier. Kate wishes to be free and uncontrolled by men, just how Edna does. Edna brings Kate’s thoughts into actions. I believe Kate Chopin wrote this novel emulating herself as the character Mrs. Pontellier

Edna Pontellier

Harsh, stringent, strict; all three of these words perfectly describe the creoles in the early 19th century. Edna Pontellier was one of the few who women in the creole region who didn’t fit this description. Being born in a different geographical region was the reasoning behind her different opinions and personality. “Mrs. Pontellier talked about her father’s Mississippi plantation and her girlhood home in the old Kentucky blue-grass country.” (Chopin 5) Just like Edna, I was born in Kentucky, and the majority of everyone there is outgoing and amiable. With this background, generally people mature to be vulnerable, considering that nobody around them has betrayed them before. This could be the cause of a few of Edna Pontellier’s issues. “She was an American woman, with a small infusion of French which seemed to have been lost in dilution” (Chopin 5) 132 The weakening infusion of French that Edna possessed could also be one of the causes of her problems. 

Possible Affair?

From the beginning of the book, I could tell Mrs. and Mr. Pontellier had a different kind of marriage. There doesn’t seem to be any love or passion. Mr. Pontellier seems to blame everything on his wife, she seems to be finally realizing she deserves better. I don’t think she should love her children any less because they are also Mr. Pontelliers children, but I can understand why she disconnects herself from them in a way. They are the constant reminder of her loveless, miserable marriage. I predict that Mrs. Pontellier will, like other partners in a failing marriage, will have an affair with Richard. He seems to have feelings for her. Maybe she will either fall for him, or at least pretend to. I think at this point she just wants to feel some kind of love, and her husband isn’t supplying it. “During his oblivious attention he once quietly rested his head against Mrs. Pontellier’s arm. As gently she repulsed him. Once again he repeated the offense. She could not but believe it to be thoughtlessness on his part; yet that was no reason she should submit to it. She did not remonstrate, except again to repulse him quietly but firmly. He offered no apology.” (Chopin 15) Even though in the excerpt above Mrs. Pontellier quietly rejects Robert’s gesture, I think he knows she’s vulnerable. Maybe he can sense the misery in Edna. I think eventually Edna will be so desperate to feel something she will respond differently to Roberts obvious attempts, maybe they will have an affair. From what I’ve read about Mr. Pontellier so far, I don’t think he will care. He will probably just want them to keep it private so the town doesn’t find out about it and ruin his reputation.  I really do believe an affair is a huge possibility but...