Edna Pontellier's Argumentative Essay
For being alone at home, Edna “begins to receive the attentions of Alcee Arobin, who is known in Creole society as a womanizer" (Wayne). Edna Pontellier’s sexual and emotional awakening outside of her marriage created a scandal.
Notwithstanding, Edna embodies a woman struggling to liberate herself sexually, economically, socially, and from patriarchal oppression. Even though she has flaws and ultimate inability to achieve a successfully liberated existence, Edna “reflects what many women felt to be the realities of their own lives and struggle" (Barrish). Throughout the course of the novel, Edna experiences a significant change in behavior, attitude, and overall character. Prior to the self-realization, Edna fits in with people and everything
around her, but she “is not the person her society identifies her as being” (Furuno). Through social norms and conventions, an identity bestowed on Edna structured her life. She is, however, “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” (57). In discovering her real self, Edna’s inner identity as a human being with integrity demands that she recognize and act in agreement with her newly discovered self-knowledge. Hence, Edna resolutely followed the path of self-recovery with willingness to risk social approbation to achieve “total fulfillment as a woman, artist, and human being” (Snodgrass). In recap, Edna awakens into the world that embodies the power of love.
The three characters desired and searched for love, but it all turned out as a mistake. For example, Olivia, who was overzealous about possessing Cesario and consequently remained resolutely in her rejection of the Duke’s love advances, advertently marries a wrong person. Olivia was highly infatuated with Cesario, a lady who disguised herself as a man, and when she came in contact with Sebastian, Cesario’s twin brother, Olivia mistakes Sebastian for Cesario, who is not receptive to her love.
Notwithstanding, Edna embodies a woman struggling to liberate herself sexually, economically, socially, and from patriarchal oppression. Even though she has flaws and ultimate inability to achieve a successfully liberated existence, Edna “reflects what many women felt to be the realities of their own lives and struggle" (Barrish). Throughout the course of the novel, Edna experiences a significant change in behavior, attitude, and overall character. Prior to the self-realization, Edna fits in with people and everything
around her, but she “is not the person her society identifies her as being” (Furuno). Through social norms and conventions, an identity bestowed on Edna structured her life. She is, however, “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” (57). In discovering her real self, Edna’s inner identity as a human being with integrity demands that she recognize and act in agreement with her newly discovered self-knowledge. Hence, Edna resolutely followed the path of self-recovery with willingness to risk social approbation to achieve “total fulfillment as a woman, artist, and human being” (Snodgrass). In recap, Edna awakens into the world that embodies the power of love.
The three characters desired and searched for love, but it all turned out as a mistake. For example, Olivia, who was overzealous about possessing Cesario and consequently remained resolutely in her rejection of the Duke’s love advances, advertently marries a wrong person. Olivia was highly infatuated with Cesario, a lady who disguised herself as a man, and when she came in contact with Sebastian, Cesario’s twin brother, Olivia mistakes Sebastian for Cesario, who is not receptive to her love.