Edna Pontellier's Familial Tensions In The Awakening

In 19th century Louisiana, there was a gender role for men and women. The men went to work while the women were “mother wives” whose main job was to to care of the children and help the family. This way of life was predominantly unquestioned, except in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. In The Awakening, Edna Pontellier, a wealthy “mother wife”, tries to fight her gender role and become independent. Edna Pontellier’s strive for independence leads to struggles with the society’s gender role upon women.
Edna’s independence causes familial tension. Edna’s resistance to her husband’s orders angers Leonce. For example, when Mr. Pontellier learns that Edna did not stay at home for her regular Tuesday reception, he screams and says she had to continue the
habit in order to “keep up the procession.” Also, after talking with Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna buys her own house without her husband’s consent. Edna’s sudden acts of independence angers Mr. Pontellier again, but covers up his familial tension because it would be bad for business. These two examples prove that Mr. Pontellier worries more about his business and reputation than his wife’s feelings. Overall, Edna’s resistance to Mr. Pontellier’s orders conflicts with Mr. Pontellier’s precious business status. Robert disapproves of Enda’s disloyalty to her husband. In Edna’s journey towards independence, she hits a rock: Robert. Although Robert and Edna both love each other, Robert’s strict belief of a woman's role as a “mother wife” is stronger than his love for Edna. Robert scolds Edna by saying she is “cruel” and would inflict “a wound [on Robert] for the pleasure of looking at it.” As much as Robert loves Edna, he cannot bare thinking of a wife who disobeys a husband. All in all, Robert’s belief in a “mother wife” upsets Edna and causes her to deal with the society’s gender role by committing suicide.
Edna’s independence causes her to be lonely. As Edna progressively becomes independent, she becomes distant to her family and friends. Edna decides to “move away from [her] house” because she does not feel connected to it. In other words, she has lost her interest in her family and wants to live alone because she does not feel happy living with Leonce or her children. Edna also loses her place in society; women do not explore their passions, and Edna’s exploration of her desires makes her feel out of place with the society. All in all, Edna’s strive for independence requires her separation from the people she lives with.
In retrospect, Edna’s battle with her society gender roles among women. As Enda tries to become an independent woman, the social mores fight back and restrain her from her goals, causing her to live unhappy. Edna’s fight against the society’s gender roles among women eventually causes her to commit suicide. Since Edna Pontellier could not choose the way she lived, she decides not to live at all.