Edna Pontelli's The Awakening

In 19th century, the society was dominated by male. Edna Pontellier was the wife of Mr. Portlier who was a creole. In French upper class society, the purpose of life for female was taught to be fond of their husbands and children. Woman at that time never lived for themselves. Mrs. Pontellier's friend, Adele Ratignolle, was considered as the perfect woman in the society, because she was a great woman who treated her children better than herself. After party, Adna first learned how to swim. She was elated because she did not know how to swim even though she had learned so many times. When Adna was no longer afraid, “she wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before”. (27) Adna had a desire to swim to the place that no woman had been,