Gender Roles In The Awakening By Kate Chopin

Traditional gender roles are important in society, and the violations of these gender roles or over-adherence to them may cause many issues to surface. These issues may be caused within one’s self, other people, or society. By looking through the feminist lens, the theme of gender roles can be seen in The Awakening by Kate Chopin. The characters of Madame Adele Ratignolle, Leonce Pontellier, and Mademoiselle Reisz, all either uphold or rebel against the social norms of gender roles. First, Madame Adele Ratignolle is a traditional housewife and mother in The Awakening, and she upholds the gender expectations of a woman. For example, Adele is very loving towards her children, and she would do anything for them, even die. The novel states, “Edna

For example, Mademoiselle Reisz inspires Edna to break away from tradition and prejudice, as the novel states, “‘...[Mademoiselle Reisz] put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she said. “The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings”’” (84). All the women in this story, apart from Mademoiselle Reisz and Edna, uphold their traditions as a woman and do not think twice about it. Mademoiselle Reisz does not agree with these traditions and prejudice against women, and she makes it apparent by doing what she chooses to do, even if it does not appease society. This quote shows how she feels about independence from society. In addition, Mademoiselle does not settle for just any man to love. She had standards, as she states in The Awakening, “It seems to me if I were young and in love I should never deem a man of ordinary caliber worthy of my devotion” (82). Unlike many women, who married who their parents chose for them or whoever could make them a stable living, Mademoiselle Reisz says she would choose only who she deems worthy of herself. She does not let anyone else’s thoughts on love affect her. Also, Mademoiselle was not liked by many people, as she was very disagreeable. The book states, “He knew Mademoiselle Reisz a good deal better than he wanted to know her, he informed his questioner. In truth, he did not want to know her at all, or anything concerning her--the most disagreeable and unpopular woman who ever lived on Bienville Street” (59). Usually, women were supposed to be polite, nice, and sweet, especially to men. Mademoiselle shows that she does not follow these rules by being who she really is, which is a sassy woman. Moreover, Mademoiselle Reisz has no sense of style, as stated on page 25, “[Mademoiselle Reisz] had absolutely no taste in dress, and wore a batch of rusty black lace…”