Edna's Discovery of Herself
Essential Question focus- how is Edna Pontellier struggling with her sense of self? Identify evidence from the text in characterization, plot, and setting this idea in the novella. Do not neglect the impact of other characters, historical context, or society expectations on her identity.
Edna Pontellier is struggling with her sense of self in various ways such as peer pressure and outside influences. Not only is she feeling obligated to society, but she is also living in a time period where it isn't socially acceptable to be different and it isn't really acceptable for women to be independent(the book was written in 1899). Edna is also being heavily influenced by the people around her such as Madame Reisz, Robert, and even her husband Leonce. The text said,"Even as a child she had lived her own small life within herself. At a very early period she had apprehended instinctively the dual life- that outward existence which conforms the inward life questions"(Ch.7). This shows that Edna has always been internally conflicted, as the book progresses this is more and more apparent.
Not only does Edna feel like she has to conform to society and be submissive to her husband like most women, but she also tries to act like the everyday common woman even though she isn't one. Edna pretends to be happy but she is internally depressed and is constantly doing little things to rebel this mindset. An example of this is, "She is not one of us; she is not like us. She might make the Unfortunate blunder of taking you seriously"(Ch.8). This quote proves that Edna was acting like a traditional woman despite the fact she most certainly is not one.
Edna is also heavily influence by those around her. One character that really shows this is Madame Reisz; she is the opposite of the "ideal" traditional woman of that time and instead of getting married and having kids, she devoted her life to music. With this, Edna sees something different, hope. Robert also influences Edna as he begins to show her real passion, real love. This is something her husband, Leonce, never did. Robert genuinely shows affection and wants to spend time with Edna.
Works Cited:
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening and Selected Short Stories. Champaign, Ill: Project Gutenberg, 1990. Internet resource.
Personal reflection focus- What do you believe to be the most critical element in the novel thus far? Paraphrase text to support your answer.
In my opinion, the most critical element of the novel thus far seems to be the fact that Edna feels trapped in her marriage and that the marriage is unhappy. If Edna didn't feel this way, she probably wouldn't feel the need to rebel as much as she does. If Leonce loved Edna or showed affection towards her the way Robert does, she would be a lot happier and a lot less scared to rebel. One night, Edna was comforted by Robert while laying in a hammock and after Leonce returned, Robert left. After Leonce told Edna to come inside and she refused, he huffed and puffed and made a dramatic deal of it. This sparked more rebellion in Edna and the more he demanded she come inside, the more Edna refused(Ch.11). She only did this because it was one of the first times she wasn't fully submissive to Leonce.
Works Cited:
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening and Selected Short Stories. Champaign, Ill: Project Gutenberg, 1990. Internet resource.
Essential question focus: What words or phrases were unique to the text and how did they contribute to the overall understanding of the novella?
Words and phrases that are unique to The Awakening are the constant french phrases scattered throughout the text. Some examples of these are "si tu savais!"(Chapter 19) and "Allez vous-en! Sapristi!"(Chapter 9) This contributes to the overall understanding of the novella by adding elements of context since Edna lived in New Orleans where there was a lot of French roots. This also could imply that Edna is trying to become more aware of her surroundings. Previously in the book (specifically Chapter 2, if you were curious), it is stated that Edna has only a small infusion of French. So with all of the French quotes, she could be attempting to learn it more and become more aware of everything going on around her.
Works Cited:
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening and Selected Short Stories. Champaign, Ill: Project Gutenberg, 1990. Internet resource.
A sentence that really stood out to me was, " Even as a child she had lived her own small life within herself. At a very early period she had apprehended instinctively the dual life - that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions."(Chapter 7) To me, this shows an entirely new side of Edna, one readers weren't really exposed to before. This paragraph was really well written because it not only gives context (Edna's childhood), but it also exposes a conflict Edna has dealt with her entire life. Even now, Edna is internally conflicted and is trying to find her place within society.
As for me, I feel like everyone lives a "double life." I feel like everyone has dark things and/or bad experiences they have had to deal with in their life that you don't really share with other people. Experience is what makes us who we are, what we have done in life and who we have around us is what changes our personalities and makes you unique. It is often said that we are all the same on the inside (because you know... we're human and if you aren't, that's pretty cool), although that may be true physically, by no means do we think the same or reflect on past experiences the same. Everyone copes differently and expresses his/her self differently and this results in different behaviors. How you choose to cope with this thing called "life" is really what makes you who you are along with the challenges you face and overcome.
Works Cited:
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening and Selected Short Stories. Champaign, Ill: Project Gutenberg, 1990. Internet resource.
Using a bullet point style list, identify text to support each major theme as noted in the calendar. There should be a minimum of TWO direct quotes per theme. Then, explain how this text supports the noted theme.
- Freedom
-“The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth.” (Chapter 27) Madame Reisz was talking to Edna and inadvertently while giving advice, she was also describing restrictions on freedom in society. This quote describes the struggle and the chains that come with being constricted to society. Once you finally spread your wings and you fly (be the person you are without caring about societal norms), you begin to doubt yourself or those around you shoot you down and you are once again, trapped.
-"'...One of these days,' she said, 'I'm going to pull myself together for a while and think- try to determine what character of a woman I am; for, candidly, I don't know. By all the codes which I am acquainted with, I am devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can't convince myself that I am. I must think about it." (Chapter 27) With this quote, Edna describes how if she reveals who she is to society, she will be judged and criticized as she is not your traditional woman. This shows how much freedom is restricted within society because she can't openly be herself without being judged by others.
- Sexism
-"You have been a very, very foolish boy, wasting your time dreaming of impossible things when you speak if Mr. Pontellier setting me free! I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier's possessions to dispose of or not. I give myself where I choose. If he were to say, 'Here, Robert, take her and be happy; she is yours,' I should laugh at you both." (Chapter 36) This quote is a really good example of sexism as it shows how men saw women as possessions. It is actually one of my favorite quotes from the novella because Edna stands up for women in a very witty, inspiring way.
-"In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman. The mother-woman seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle... They were women who idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels." (Chapter 4) This quote helps show readers how most women in society were. Edna didn't fit in society because she refused to let her family dictate who she was when in fact, she was an individual.
- Search for Self
- "In short, 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." (Chapter 6) Edna was lost and didn't know who she was. With this quote, readers can read about when Edna was finally awakened and began to find who she was.
-"He could see plainly that she was not herself. That is, he could not see that she was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world." (Chapter 19) As Edna changes and is finding herself, the people around her notice these changes. Leonce is basically saying that Edna only shows society what she wants them to see her as. She is slowly changing that as she finds herself and as Leonce metaphorically puts it, everyday is taking off a new garment that once used to hide who she really is.
- Public vs. Private life (can these two intersect?)
-Chopin wrote, "Even as a child she had lived her own small life within herself. At a very early period she had apprehended instinctively the dual life- that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions." (Chapter 7) With this quote, Edna's constant internal conflict is foreshadowed. She hid the person she was and exposed herself to the public as a housewife, only a few people knew about Edna's other personality that she kept proivate (the independent and not at all your typical, everyday woman).
-"Looking at them reminded her of her rings, which she had given to her husband before leaving the beach. She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm She slipped them upon her fingers." (Chapter 1)While reading this, readers can infer that Edna and Leonce have been married for a while as their marriage seems almost habitual; they are able to speak and understand each other with no words. This is the public aspect of Edna and Leonce's marriage because they put up a front to hide the issues within their marriage.
Yes, this absolutely could have ended any other way for Edna! When it comes down to it, suicide, in my opinion, could always have ended another way. Although Edna was unhappy, she could have chosen other routes of becoming happier. "He did not know; he did not understand. He would never understand." (Chapter 39) Although she felt as though Leonce, or anyone for that matter, couldn't understand what she was going through, she still could have done other things besides killing herself. Edna even said, " Perhaps Doctor Mandelet would have understood if she had seen him- but it was too late..." (Chapter 39) This already shows that maybe if Edna went to the Doctor instead of the beach that she might be alive. Edna also could have maybe moved to a different place or country for a bit to get a break from it all before she decided to go to the beach. Overall, I do feel this could have ended another way such as Edna going to get help from the doctor, or going somewhere to take a break.
Works Cited:
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening and Selected Short Stories. Champaign, Ill: Project Gutenberg, 1990. Internet resource.
Personal reflection focus- could this have ended any other way for Edna Pontellier? Support with textual evidence.
Yes, this absolutely could have ended any other way for Edna! When it comes down to it, suicide, in my opinion, could always have ended another way. Although Edna was unhappy, she could have chosen other routes of becoming happier. "He did not know; he did not understand. He would never understand." (Chapter 39) Although she felt as though Leonce, or anyone for that matter, couldn't understand what she was going through, she still could have done other things besides killing herself. Edna even said, " Perhaps Doctor Mandelet would have understood if she had seen him- but it was too late..." (Chapter 39) This already shows that maybe if Edna went to the Doctor instead of the beach that she might be alive. Edna also could have maybe moved to a different place or country for a bit to get a break from it all before she decided to go to the beach. Overall, I do feel this could have ended another way such as Edna going to get help from the doctor, or going somewhere to take a break.
Works Cited:
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening and Selected Short Stories. Champaign, Ill: Project Gutenberg, 1990. Internet resource.
Bonus smiles for the "Friends" reference! I only read Blog #1 right now, I'll come back to the others, but this is great work here!
ReplyDeleteThank you! (:
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