Edna's Influence On Society

Her new house is more modest, and its small size disallows the entertaining that was a dominant part of her former life. Consequently, Edna believes that independence and social rank form a contrary relationship; she has “descended in the social scale,” but she has “risen in the spiritual.” Ignoring the expectations of those around allows her to act in accordance to her own impulses and opinions. Edna’s association of strength and individual expansion with a total rupture from society seems somewhat erroneous. Ultimately, Edna defines herself according to her ability to disregard, rather than interact with, others. Her belief in independence and assimilation within society are entirely opposite and could underlie her tragic death at the end
Chopin has the audience take notice of “’How many years have I slept?’” she inquired. ‘The whole island seems changed. A new race of beings must have sprung up, leaving only you and me as past relics. How many ages ago did Madame Antoine and Tonie die? And when did our people from Grand Isle disappear from the earth?’” (1282). Edna thinks back on her desire to be alone with Robert and, therefore, free from the restrictions of a society that envelops them. At the same time, her fantasy that she and Robert have already been abandoned as “past relics” is evidence that her new self-awareness has separated her from reality. Mentally, Edna is already living her isolated, island-like, fairy-tale experience. She has not fully come to terms with her feelings for Robert, and she does not understand the effect that her love for him will have on her life in the real world. The conditions that Edna describes in this fantasy are really the only ones where a relationship between Edna and Robert would be possible. As long as they live within that fantasy world, their love is unable to overcome social pact and