“The Awakening” Chapters I-VI We cannot escape the presence of so called “perfect people.” People you idolize, and at the same time, despise. While you hate knowing these people, it’s even more painful when you seem to have the perfect family to pair with them. Like somehow you were placed in a position of perfection that you don’t deserve. Mrs. Edna Pontellier should have been happy. She had an adoring husband who showered her with gifts as well as children that loved her dearly. However, unlike Madame Ratignolle and the ladies at the Grand Isle, Edna did not hold womanly grace or charm. And she was certainly not the motherly type. After wallowing, in what seems to be her mistaken identity, Edna starts to look toward the light, realizing her life is what she makes it, and not the other way around. With her new friend Robert as her escort, Edna sets off to explore the unthinkable and more importantly, to better understand herself.
“The Awakening” Chapters VI-XII At a young age, dreams and fantasies fill our minds. Whether we imagine Prince Charming riding up on a white stallion, or the idea that we could be a major business executive, we all have expectations for our lives. As we get older, we seem to lower these expectations and settle for whatever is in reach. Mrs. Edna Pontellier started out as one of these dreamers. Various men, for example, enticed Edna. Edna found herself infatuated with one tragedian in particular, kissing him through glass containing his picture. Instead of pursuing this tragedian, however, Edna married Leonce Pontellier, a man who grew on her over time. While she didn’t love him, he loved her and, at the time, that was enough. Suddenly, Edna begins to feel lifted with new emotions and unrest concerning her current fate. While Robert insists it is the result of a haunting spirit, he secretly feels he is the cause of Mrs. Pontellier’s changing mood. Whatever the cause, Edna gains new courage, refusing to obey her husband’s orders. Strangely enough, she also finds herself wishing to spend more time with Robert, who obliges, even after the warnings of Madame Ratignolle.
“The Awakening” Chapters XIII-XVII In life, we are involved in many different types of relationships. Certain individuals are seen as friends, others as our family. Some people, however, fit into a different category. Whether it’s love or only lust, these special people seem to bring a new excited energy to our lives. An energy that makes us feel as if we are floating on air. When these people exit our lives, time seems to stand still and all the happiness we were feeling disappears. Suddenly, we don’t know what to do with ourselves. Nothing is quite the same. Robert’s sudden departure to Mexico brings Edna just such emptiness. She had grown accustomed to his presence and with little notice and a curt good-bye, he was gone. Edna finds herself infatuated with Robert, finding every moment she can to bring up his name. She presses for details about his well-being, grows jealous when his mother receives one of his letters, and is hurt that she was not mentioned more prominently in it. When Edna returns to her home in New Orleans, her memory of Robert remains strong. Even a stepped on wedding ring and a shattered vase isn’t enough to comfort her longing heart.
“The Awakening” Chapters XVIII-XXII Years ago in male-dominated society, the woman was given the duties of the household. She was expected to cook, clean, and tend to the children. When a women neglected these duties, she was seen as unfit and lacking femininity. Slowly, however, these stereotypes began to change. Nowadays, many women carry on dual roles as both a businesswoman and a mother. Some women start out as housewives, but end up as major executives. For whatever the reason, these women desire more out of life than just motherhood. Edna exemplifies all of the problems and adjustments that women have endured through the ages. Her husband sees her job as the caretaker of his family. She is to take care of the children, enjoy their lavish lifestyle, and remain highly respected and admired by the community. Edna, on the other hand, finds such a life dull and unsettling. She wants spontaneity and fun. She doesn’t want to feel obligated to great guests at her home every Tuesday night. If she wants to paint, she should be allowed to paint. In other words, Edna strives to march to the beat of her own drum. Just creating the downbeat of her new self-controlled life, however, can not make Edna forget the beat of her own heart; a heart full of longing for Robert.
“The Awakening” Chapters XXIII-XXVII The heart is an intricate organ containing many chambers of love. Therefore, the word love suggests many different meanings. One definition of love says it is the condition of being closely tied to another. Another describes love as something you enjoy enthusiastically, and often excessively. And yet another defines love as a deep and passionate desire. How can one word have so much depth? And how do you know what one means when the words “I love you” are uttered? In my personal opinion, the word love is often misused. Like, lust, and love, may seem to coinside, but in reality, they are three different emotions and should be acted on in three different manners. Edna likes her husband. He adores her and over time, she has grown affectionate towards him. Edna lusts for Alcee Arobin, a man who has given her more attention than she has received by her husband in years, and in turn, fills Edna with excited energy. She gets caught up in this lust, letting herself be led into a romantic relationship to which she was not truly committed. Furthermore, Edna loves Robert. A man who fascinates her and whom she can’t see her life without. A man who pushes her to give up her lavish home, for a place she can call her own and do as she pleases. This is the man she truly wants, and according to Mademoiselle Reisz, he loves her too.
“The Awakening” Chapter XXVIII-XXXIII An anonymous author once wrote, “If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.” In other words, to realize what you want, and more importantly, to get it, you must first be truthful about what you’ve got. You must answer the tough questions. How does the life you’re living match up to your expectations? Are you happy? And finally, is it enough? In doing so, Edna has finally opened her eyes and started to live her life for herself. She moved out of her grand townhouse and into one of less elegance because it was best for her. She visited the children at their grandmother’s on her own accord. She comes and goes as she pleases, feeling no obligations for chores, family, or public appearances. What Edna comes to find on her path of self-reliance, is that Robert is the trophy she has been seeking. No matter what she does in life, he is always there in her thoughts, in her dreams, and most strongly, in her heart. Although she doesn’t need him to survive in life, she needs him to complete her life. In a twist of fate, Robert and Edna meet at Madamoiselle Reisz’s home and suddenly, two flames have been rekindled.
“The Awakening” Chapters XXXIV-XXXIX Through the years, society has crafted the mold on how we as human beings are meant to live out our lives. As long as we follow the rules, we are guaranteed respect and dignity by those who know us. As soon as we try to bend those rules, however, that admiration changes to disapproval. Although we praise the word “individual,” we are intolerant of those who act upon it. By loving Robert, a man who is not her husband, Edna is failing society and all of its provisions on life. Robert, although deeply in love, understands the hardships that await Edna if her love for him is made known, and as a result, leaves her for what he sees as her best interest. The interest of Edna’s heart, however, is not yet convinced. Edna knows she cannot truthfully keep her family together and be happy. Instead, her happiness lies with a man who she cannot rightfully call her own. Feeling overcome with grief, Edna takes the only escape other than conformity she can; her life. And what better way to die than to immerse herself in water; an element of nature invincible overtime to society’s containment.
Didn't the passage of background information say that Antigone was a victim of Creon's hubris? Some of you are suggesting that Antigone is the tragic hero. Thoughts on that.
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“The Awakening” Chapters I-VI
We cannot escape the presence of so called “perfect people.” People you idolize, and at the same time, despise. While you hate knowing these people, it’s even more painful when you seem to have the perfect family to pair with them. Like somehow you were placed in a position of perfection that you don’t deserve. Mrs. Edna Pontellier should have been happy. She had an adoring husband who showered her with gifts as well as children that loved her dearly. However, unlike Madame Ratignolle and the ladies at the Grand Isle, Edna did not hold womanly grace or charm. And she was certainly not the motherly type. After wallowing, in what seems to be her mistaken identity, Edna starts to look toward the light, realizing her life is what she makes it, and not the other way around. With her new friend Robert as her escort, Edna sets off to explore the unthinkable and more importantly, to better understand herself.
“The Awakening” Chapters VI-XII
At a young age, dreams and fantasies fill our minds. Whether we imagine
Prince Charming riding up on a white stallion, or the idea that we could be a major business executive, we all have expectations for our lives. As we get older, we seem to lower these expectations and settle for whatever is in reach. Mrs. Edna Pontellier started out as one of these dreamers. Various men, for example, enticed Edna. Edna found herself infatuated with one tragedian in particular, kissing him through glass containing his picture. Instead of pursuing this tragedian, however, Edna married Leonce Pontellier, a man who grew on her over time. While she didn’t love him, he loved her and, at the time, that was enough. Suddenly, Edna begins to feel lifted with new emotions and unrest concerning her current fate. While Robert insists it is the result of a haunting spirit, he secretly feels he is the cause of Mrs. Pontellier’s changing mood. Whatever the cause, Edna gains new courage, refusing to obey her husband’s orders. Strangely enough, she also finds herself wishing to spend more time with Robert, who obliges, even after the warnings of Madame Ratignolle.
“The Awakening” Chapters XIII-XVII
In life, we are involved in many different types of relationships. Certain individuals are seen as friends, others as our family. Some people, however, fit into a different category. Whether it’s love or only lust, these special people seem to bring a new excited energy to our lives. An energy that makes us feel as if we are floating on air. When these people exit our lives, time seems to stand still and all the happiness we were feeling disappears. Suddenly, we don’t know what to do with ourselves. Nothing is quite the same. Robert’s sudden departure to Mexico brings Edna just such emptiness. She had grown accustomed to his presence and with little notice and a curt good-bye, he was gone. Edna finds herself infatuated with Robert, finding every moment she can to bring up his name. She presses for details about his well-being, grows jealous when his mother receives one of his letters, and is hurt that she was not mentioned more prominently in it. When Edna returns to her home in New Orleans, her memory of Robert remains strong. Even a stepped on wedding ring and a shattered vase isn’t enough to comfort her longing heart.
“The Awakening” Chapters XVIII-XXII
Years ago in male-dominated society, the woman was given the duties of the household. She was expected to cook, clean, and tend to the children. When a women neglected these duties, she was seen as unfit and lacking femininity. Slowly, however, these stereotypes began to change. Nowadays, many women carry on dual roles as both a businesswoman and a mother. Some women start out as housewives, but end up as major executives. For whatever the reason, these women desire more out of life than just motherhood. Edna exemplifies all of the problems and adjustments that women have endured through the ages. Her husband sees her job as the caretaker of his family. She is to take care of the children, enjoy their lavish lifestyle, and remain highly respected and admired by the community. Edna, on the other hand, finds such a life dull and unsettling. She wants spontaneity and fun. She doesn’t want to feel obligated to great guests at her home every Tuesday night. If she wants to paint, she should be allowed to paint. In other words, Edna strives to march to the beat of her own drum. Just creating the downbeat of her new self-controlled life, however, can not make Edna forget the beat of her own heart; a heart full of longing for Robert.
“The Awakening” Chapters XXIII-XXVII
The heart is an intricate organ containing many chambers of love. Therefore, the word love suggests many different meanings. One definition of love says it is the condition of being closely tied to another. Another describes love as something you enjoy enthusiastically, and often excessively. And yet another defines love as a deep and passionate desire. How can one word have so much depth? And how do you know what one means when the words “I love you” are uttered? In my personal opinion, the word love is often misused. Like, lust, and love, may seem to coinside, but in reality, they are three different emotions and should be acted on in three different manners. Edna likes her husband. He adores her and over time, she has grown affectionate towards him. Edna lusts for Alcee Arobin, a man who has given her more attention than she has received by her husband in years, and in turn, fills Edna with excited energy. She gets caught up in this lust, letting herself be led into a romantic relationship to which she was not truly committed. Furthermore, Edna loves Robert. A man who fascinates her and whom she can’t see her life without. A man who pushes her to give up her lavish home, for a place she can call her own and do as she pleases. This is the man she truly wants, and according to Mademoiselle Reisz, he loves her too.
“The Awakening” Chapter XXVIII-XXXIII
An anonymous author once wrote, “If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.” In other words, to realize what you want, and more importantly, to get it, you must first be truthful about what you’ve got. You must answer the tough questions. How does the life you’re living match up to your expectations? Are you happy? And finally, is it enough? In doing so, Edna has finally opened her eyes and started to live her life for herself. She moved out of her grand townhouse and into one of less elegance because it was best for her. She visited the children at their grandmother’s on her own accord. She comes and goes as she pleases, feeling no obligations for chores, family, or public appearances. What Edna comes to find on her path of self-reliance, is that Robert is the trophy she has been seeking. No matter what she does in life, he is always there in her thoughts, in her dreams, and most strongly, in her heart. Although she doesn’t need him to survive in life, she needs him to complete her life. In a twist of fate, Robert and Edna meet at Madamoiselle Reisz’s home and suddenly, two flames have been rekindled.
“The Awakening” Chapters XXXIV-XXXIX
Through the years, society has crafted the mold on how we as human beings are meant to live out our lives. As long as we follow the rules, we are guaranteed respect and dignity by those who know us. As soon as we try to bend those rules, however, that admiration changes to disapproval. Although we praise the word “individual,” we are intolerant of those who act upon it. By loving Robert, a man who is not her husband, Edna is failing society and all of its provisions on life. Robert, although deeply in love, understands the hardships that await Edna if her love for him is made known, and as a result, leaves her for what he sees as her best interest. The interest of Edna’s heart, however, is not yet convinced. Edna knows she cannot truthfully keep her family together and be happy. Instead, her happiness lies with a man who she cannot rightfully call her own. Feeling overcome with grief, Edna takes the only escape other than conformity she can; her life. And what better way to die than to immerse herself in water; an element of nature invincible overtime to society’s containment.
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