In the novel The Awakening, Edna shares similarities and differences with two very opposite friends, Adele and Mademoiselle Reiz. These two women play a major role in Edna’s awakening. Adele is a good mother, friend, and person. She represents Adele’s motherly side. She wants to be a good mother and stay with her kids, but she can’t live feeling captive. Edna does love her children but does not feel suited to be a mother. “She was fond of her children in an uneven, impulsive way. She would sometimes gather them passionately to her heart; she would sometimes forget them.
The year before they had spent part of the summer with their grandmother Pontellier in Iberville. Feeling secure regarding their happiness and welfare, she did not miss them except with an occasional intense longing.” (Chopin 554) Adele represents the Victorian feminine ideal, she adores her children and listens to her husband. Adele is who Edna is destined to be. Edna’s other friend Mademoiselle Reiz, is the lady who plays the biggest role in Edna’s awakening. Mademoiselle Reisz is not married, has no children, and lives for herself only. Edna is unhappy with the marriage and her social role, she admires Mademoiselle Reiz for her lifestyle. “[T]o succeed, the artist must possess the courageous soul.” (588) Mademoiselle advises Edna to be brave. Edna wants to be a mother and be independent. Since she can’t have both, she chooses herself.
The Awakening and Male Character Contribution to Oppression
In The Awakening, there are four major male characters that contributed to her oppression; Robert Lebrun, Leonce Pontellier, Alcee Arobin, and the colonel. Although Leburn was in Mexico for the majority of Edna’s awakening, he plays an important role. His unintentional flirtations inspired Edna to let go of her reserved self. The Creole women play along with his flirtation and enjoy the attention with no bad intentions. Edna falls for Robert’s devotion. She sees in him the love and happiness her marriage doesn’t have. Edna’s husband, Leonce Pontellier, is a wealthy businessman.
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Although he loves Edna and his children, he doesn’t give them the attention they need. He is very concerned with social appearances, “in one of the daily papers appeared a brief notice to the effect that Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier were contemplating a summer sojourn abroad, and that their handsome residence on Esplanade Street was undergoing sumptuous alterations, and would not be ready for occupancy until their return. Mr. Pontellier had saved appearances!” (611) Leonce Pontellier released this to cover up for Edna living in the pigeon house.
The social appearance is what concerned him the most. Maybe if his relationship with Edna didn’t lack passion and excitement, Edna would have been happily married. She wouldn’t need an awakening if she was happy with her husband. Alcee Arobin is the guy who fulfills Enda’s physical needs. He is known as a playboy and Edna never grows to love him. He is at fault with Edna’s oppression because he fulfills her sexual awakening. Her marriage lacks passion, therefor Arobin gives her what she was missing.
Finally, Edna’s father was a former Confederate officer in the civil war. Edna’s didn’t have a mom growing up, therefore, she was raised by her father only. Her father believes that a husband should manage their wives with force. Edna married Leonce as a rebellious move against her father. Her father faults for Edna’s oppression because if they would have had a better relationship she would have never married the wrong person. She might have chosen not to marry at all or marry someone who would have given her more passion and excitement.
Work Cited
- Choping, Kate. The Awakening. The American Tradition in Literature, Perkins George and Perkins Barbara, pp. 540-627.
