Adle Ratignolle The Awakening

. Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, examines the role of women during the late nineteenth century. Throughout The Awakening, the prominent idea of the perfect mother-woman is an important concept of how women were expected to act during the time period. One character who embodies the perfect idea of a mother-woman is Adele Ratignolle. On the other hand, Edna Pontellier represents the anti-thesis to how women are not supposed to act by rebelling against society. Through Kate Chopin’s, The Awakening, the foil characters of Adele Ratignolle and Edna Pontellier exemplify the opposing concepts of how a mother-woman should act. Through several interactions with her husband and children, Adele Ratignolle personifies the concept of a perfect mother-woman. In the novel, Adele Ratignolle embodies the role of a “good mother” (Chopin 8) by “caring and nurturing” (9) her children, while “respecting” (19) her husband. Moreover, Adele Ratignolle “wholeheartedly” (65) accepts her “duties” (8) in the house, while tending to her family with “diligence” (59). Furthermore, Adele’s hobby of playing the “piano” (61) is considered an “acceptable” (71) and ladylike “pastime” (75) of women during the nineteenth century.

Edna Pontellier is an “strong-willed” (67) woman, refuses to “obey” (34) her husband. Moreover, Edna is “unwilling” (5) and “inattentive” (6) towards her children, when her husband says they are “sick” (5). Throughout the novel, Edna “focuses” (66) her time on her “sketches” (68) rather than her house duties. Furthermore, Edna “abandon” (49) her “duties” (50) to “entertain [her] guests” (50) on Tuesdays. Edna decides to move into a “pigeon house” (85) as a sign of her newly found “independence” (86). Throughout the novel The Awakening, Edna Pontellier’s personality reveals an independent, woman, a type of woman which represents how a mother-woman should