Edna in “The Awakening” portrays almost like a selfish character. Her husband and her have good moments as well as bad moments, and it does not become clear until later in the book what each others intentions are. The relationship between the two is rather odd, and the families of the two disagree with their marriage, even though they have two kids already. Edna is the protagonist of the novel. While Edna and Mr. Pontellier have a "mistaken fancy" of "a sympathy of thought and taste," Edna and Robert have what seems like the real deal. This sends her heart into a frenzy of pitter-pattering, and leads to her expanding her horizons: she starts swimming and painting and hanging out with mildly eccentric people.
In chapter 7 of the novel it is revealed that Edna married Leonce on "accident, which to me
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But as the paragraph follows, the situation becomes more clear. Edna was actually interested in another man but Leonce was deeply in love and "pressed his suit with an earnestness and ardor which left nothing to be desired. He pleased her; his absolute devotion flattered her." One of the first ways the conflict is developed after Edna has realized that she is unhappy and wants to be free is her action of spending time with her friend, Robert, whom she falls in love with. Even though he leaves, she has made her decision to live a more free life and she moves into her own apartment away from her whole family, including her children, and takes a lover. Edna is perceived as selfish for many reasons but i can see why this is one of those. The conflicts that become of this occur first in her marriage and the society. Since during this time society was judgemental and had certain viewpoints, serious conflicts at this point between Victorian society emerged and she is judged harshly and condemned by almost everyone. This conflict leads her to eventually grow depressed
Edna seems to disregard the fact that her changes were affecting others around her, but in chapter XIX, the author reveals how Edna’s awakening has been affecting her husband. Leonce, who bared witness to the whole transformation, was able to tolerate some resistance from his wife as long as she remained taking care of her duties as a mother and wife. Leonce realized Edna had changed, but could not see in what way, he could not see the way these changes were better his wife. He saw the change in her only from the outside, he could not see how it affected her heart, and how it turned her into her true self. Edna was selfish for not thinking about her loved ones before changing her life so drastically, but her husband was selfish for not realizing she needed this change to be who she
In The Awakening, Edna Pontellier is a selfish character. She wishes to live her life the way she wants without anyone interfering. She did not start selfish, but grew selfish as her hidden desires were awakened. Her selfishness comes from her complete disregard for anyone’s happiness besides her own. Edna refuses to attend her sister’s wedding, describing the event as lamentable. Even if Edna did not want to attend, a wedding is for the bride and groom’s happiness. She is unable to compromise any of her own desires for the happiness of others. Edna’s own marriage was an act of rebellion for marrying outside of what was expected, and came with the titles of wife and mother. Edna abandoned her relationship without trying to resolve any difficulties with her husband before satisfying her needs. She does not discuss with him her unhappiness or seek his approval before moving to the pigeon house. She develops her relationship with Arobin only to fulfill her own physical needs.
Edna misunderstands the situation and claims that she is the victim of Robert removing himself from her life. Robert solely wants to salvage her reputation and be a good man. He does not wish to become the man that ruined Edna’s even if it meant he could be with the woman he loves. She wholly disregards the things Roberts cares about when deciding that he is selfish for not only thinking of her. When Robert leaves her near the end of the book to protect her reputation, Edna still believed that she was the victim: “‘Good-by--because I love you.’ He did not know; He did not understand … it was too late”(125). Edna is a woman who leaves her husband, her children, and her friends all because she only cares about herself, and when she does not get what she wants, Robert, she decides that there was no more reason to live.
...y none the less because Edna was trying to get separation from Leonce. Unlike Sarah moving out was just the start for Edna. Once she had that she wanted more, and she ended up with the most she could possibly obtain.
A typically assumed reason for having an affair is that the person's spouse is, in some way, unsatisfactory. Perhaps by their affair, they are searching for a better source of love. This, however, was not a justifiable cause for Edna's adultery. Mr. Pontellier was a loving husband who tried to show his love for Edna in all of the ways he was able. Léonce showered his wife with valuable gifts. His life revolved around money, and he knew no other way to show his wife how much he loved her. He attempted to compensate Mrs. Pontellier materialistically for the lack of emotional support. While this may not be an ideal solution to the problem, it cannot be denied that Mr. Pontellier was trying to diminish the problems between them. Yet, even though it is understandable that she is upset that her husband lacks family skills, getting married was solely Edna's fault. The history of their relationship is far from perfect. Chopin states "her marriage to Léonce Pontellier was purely an accident... He fell in love...and pressed his suit with an earnestness and an ardor which left nothing to be desired. He pleased her; his absolute devotion flattered her" (18). Edna was not fair to him when she married him without loving him. She "grew fond of her husband" (18), but fondness is not a good reason for marriage.
Being a woman, she is completely at the mercy of her husband. He provides for her a lifestyle she could not obtain on her own and fixes her place in society. This vulnerability stops Edna from being truly empowered. To gain independence as a woman, and as a person, Edna must relinquish the stability and comfort she finds in the relationship with her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier's marriage comprises a series of power plays and responds well to Marxist and Feminist Theory. Leonce Pontellier looks "…at his wife as one who looks at a valuable piece of property…". He views her as an accessory that completes the ideal life for him. Edna, however, begins to desire autonomy and independence from Leonce, so true to the feminist point of view.
In The Awakening, the male characters attempt to exert control over the character of Edna. None of the men understand her need for independence. Edna thinks she will find true love with Robert but realizes that he will never understand her needs to be an independent woman. Edna's father and husband control her and they feel she has a specific duty as a woman. Alcee Arobin, also attempts to control Edna in his own way. Edna knows she wants freedom. She realizes this at the beginning of the book. "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 (Pg. 642). Throughout The Awakening she is trying to gain that independence that she wants so bad.
It is obvious to the reader that Edna and Robert have a connection and are amused by what the other has to say. Leonce shrugs this off as nothing and leaves for the hotel where many of the men chat and drink in the evenings. Edna and Robert talk some more and eventually part. These are the first signs of something special between them. Robert often spends his time chatting with Edna and Madame Ratingnolle.
She desperately wanted a voice and independence. Edna’s realization of her situation occurred progressively. It was a journey in which she slowly discovered what she was lacking emotionally. Edna’s first major disappointment in the novel was after her husband, Leonce Pontellier, lashed out at her and criticized her as a mother after she insisted her child was not sick. This sparked a realization in Edna that made here realize she was unhappy with her marriage. This was a triggering event in her self discovery. This event sparked a change in her behavior. She began disobeying her husband and she began interacting inappropriately with for a married woman. Edna increasingly flirted with Robert LeBrun and almost instantly became attracted to him. These feelings only grew with each interaction. Moreover, when it was revealed to Edna that Robert would be leaving for Mexico she was deeply hurt not only because he didn’t tell her, but she was also losing his company. Although Edna’s and Robert’s relationship may have only appeared as friendship to others, they both secretly desired a romantic relationship. Edna was not sure why she was feeling the way she was “She could only realize that she herself-her present self-was in some way different from the other self. That she was seeing with different eyes and making the acquaintance of new conditions in herself that colored
Leonce Pontellier, the character portraying Edna’s husband was a man very traditional in his thinking. He was self-absorbed and honestly did not see the fault in his own ways. He sincerely believed that Edna was the most important person in his life. However we notice throughout the story that his behavior was in direct contrast with that statement. Edna is only important to him, as in how she effects him and the effect her actions has on his life.
Edna marries her husband, not out of love, but out of expectation of society and her family’s dislike of him. She is a young woman when they marry; she has never had a great romance. The closest thing to passion she
At the beginning of the novel we can see how this kind of society is explained and how from the beginning Edna does not represent the kind of woman present in it: In short,
After her summer of romantic tension with Robert in Grand Isle, Edna refuses to continue neglecting her desires. When she meets Alcée Arobin,
Edna’s relationship with Leonce and the children is challenged. According to the book, she is not a motherly figure. She is more of a carefree person and did not feel she had to be with her children all the time “if one of the little Pontellier boys took a tumble whilst at play, he was not apt to rush crying to his mother’s arm for comfort, he would more likely pick himself up” (Chopin 16). This is from her husband, Mr. Pontellier. He believes Edna does not do her job as a mother and she does not feel the need to care after her children.
Yet Leonce gives no reason for wanting her inside other than he said so- here lies the folly within the particular facet of masculinity. He doesn’t know why he wants her inside but he said to come and so she should do it. The primitive nature of this command contrasts sharply with the strides toward modern self-fulfillment Edna is making throughout the novel. The unrealistic nature of male dominance is furthered revealed in this novel when Leonce’s inability to force Edna to participate in the social traditions of their community causes him to fear for his business. Leonce’s lack of interest in or respect for Edna's point of view is depicted in this scene, as he chastises her for her behavior without inquiring its cause.