Does Edna Pontellier's Journey Of Self-Conformity?

In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, Edna Pontellier’s journey of self-realization accentuates the tension between outward conformity and inward rebellion. During her summer vacation at Grand Isle, Edna rediscovers her passion for art through Mademoiselle Reisz and engages in an affair with Robert Lebrun. However, the social influences of her husband, Leonce, and her friend, Madame Ratignolle pressure Edna to conform to her role as a traditional mother and wife. Edna soon realizes she will never be able to pursue her passions while simultaneously fulfilling her societal obligations. Her struggle to liberate herself from social conventions highlights how nonconformity will result in solitude and internal tension. Recognizing how societal rules prevent

her from attaining true happiness, Edna commits suicide as a result of her internal confliction.
During her summer at Grand Isle, Edna’s experiences with the Creole women inspire her to explore her suppressed passions and question her role as a stereotypical mother. Although initially uncomfortable by the Creole women’s carefree discussion of taboo subjects such as pregnancy, Edna’s exposure to their openness prompts her to reflect on her personal thoughts without feeling embarrassed or ashamed. As Edna continues to explore her emotions, she soon discovers her dissatisfaction with her expected duties as a wife. In an attempt to pursue her individual happiness, she leaves her children with the quadroon nurse and begins flirting with Robert Lebrun. Their innocent relationship eventually develops into a serious affair, which helps Edna rediscover the sexual passion missing from her relationship with Leonce. When Robert leaves the country for Mexico, Edna turns toward Mademoiselle Reisz’s artistic piano playing as an outlet for her passions and emotions. Edna’s personal awakening introduces her to a desire for independence uncommon for women during the Victorian era. Even in the midst of her self-realization, Edna still feels pressured to imitate the motherly demeanor of Madame Ratignolle and fulfill her obligations to her husband and children. As a result of her internal conflict, she keeps her newfound emotions to herself and does not yet rebel. Edna discovers she is unable to reconcile her desire to pursue her passions with her expected duties as a mother.
Upon returning home to New Orleans after her vacation, Edna’s newly found desire for independence is soon hindered by her monotonous life of a housewife.

She is expected by society to look after her children and attend to guests in her home. No longer able to withstand the oppression of her individuality, Edna decides to abandon her former lifestyle and begins to dictate her life using her emotions rather than social traditions. She begins to devote her time toward painting and frequently visits Mademoiselle Reisz, a self-sufficient woman and artist who Edna aspires to become. During one of her visits, Mademoiselle Reisz tells Edna that as an artist, Edna must make numerous sacrifices in order to transcend the restraints of social conventions. Edna, as a result, moves out of her mansion and settles in a small house in order to liberate herself from Leonce’s ownership. However, her independence and neglect of mother duties only result in solitude and distance her from her friends and family. Discouraged by the isolation, Edna attempts to seek companionship by confessing her feelings to Robert and believes their relationship can free her from an oppressive marriage. When Robert returns from Mexico, the two confess their mutual love for eachother; however, he believes it is impossible for them be together since he fears society’s opinion if they consummate their adulterous affair. Despite his love for Edna, Robert desires to conform to the traditional outlook of marriage and capitulates to social norms. Appalled by Robert’s conventional views, Edna realizes she is truly alone in her journey of self-realization. By deliberately rebelling against social conventions and pursuing her passions, she is isolated from the rest of society as a result. Unable to bear her internal conflict and lacking the support of her friends, Edna returns to Grand Isle and swims out into the ocean. Realizing she will never attain true happiness within the constraints of society, Edna chooses

to commit suicide rather than to have her life dictated by social rules.
Conflicted between her obligations and her identity, Edna struggles to pursue her passions in a rigid community where she is expected to conform to her role as a mother. Although she sedulously attempts to manifest her independence, she ultimately realizes her nonconformity will only result in solitude and rejection from society. Unwilling to spend the rest of her life constrained to society's expectations, she commits suicide as the final assertion of her independence. Through Edna’s social isolation and her tragic fate, Chopin highlights the consequences of defying social norms. Without the strength to persevere through society’s oppressive limitations, nonconformity will eventually result in despair and internal conflict.