Edna Pontellier's Role In The Awakening

In the novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin, the gender role of Edna Pontellier who is portrayed as a wife and a mother is unacceptable in the nineteenth century. She played her role as a mother and wife in a negative image of the women in this century. The view towards women in the nineteenth century is viewed differently from today. Women in the nineteenth century basically perceived themselves as a property to their husbands. Women in this era had little to no rights and were merely seen nothing more than just objects. In the novel The Awakening, Edna contradicts the idea of women not having authority. Edna was not able to commit her love to her husband, show a rebellious freedom by sharing intimate feelings with other men, and failed as
She started by letting Robert flirt with her while her husband was not present. At first, she did not know her emotions towards Robert in their relationship. Edna did not commit her love to her husband by letting other men get near her or talk to her the way they normally do. She was a lost woman trying to find a new lifestyle to live her life, but at the same time she was trying to free herself from the relationship she had with her husband. “She felt somewhat like a woman who in a moment of passion is betrayed into an act of infidelity, and realizes the significance of the act without being wholly awakened from its glamour (Chopin 89).” Not only was she not thinking about what her husband thought of her, but she as well was thinking about Robert, who she is currently in love
Pontellier (Chopin 2).” That was a problem right away that Leonce did not disagree to chase him off from speaking to his wife. Leonce loved his wife but gave her too much freedom which lead her to be rebellious. Leonce made a worthy amount of money and decided to gave his family a fair living. When he was away, Edna wanted to purchase a new house without the authorization of her husband. She did not need her husband’s permission to abandon their home and move into a new one around the corner. Leonce as a father role was not so great. He was more focused into his business and tried buying his families love by purchasing them gifts which is not a great as having him by his family. He looked as wife as if she was his maid by wanting her to take care of the kids and be a good mother to them but he was never around to do the same. His business blinded him from realizing what his wife was going through. Leonce giving Edna a great amount freedom caused her to ignore him whenever he requested her something. “I mean to stay out here. I don’t wish to go in, I don’t intend to. Don’t speak to me like that again; I shall not answer you. (Chopin 36).” When Edna was laying in the hammock, she ignored him. Women in this period were seen only as a domestic house wife; they were to do as they were told. Edna has felt comfortable not listening to