Authors use the element of character development in order to captivate and enthrall the recipient of the novel. This is proved to be especially true in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. In her novel, she uses the protagonist, Edna Pontellier’s character development to entice the audience. However, Mrs. Pontellier’s character development is not only shown through her actions, but by the actions of the supporting characters. The supporting characters are used to mold both the characteristics of the unawakened Edna Pontellier, as well as the awakened Edna Pontellier.
The initial supporting character that creates the unawakened Edna is her husband, Léonce Pontellier. Their relationship created Edna’s tiresome and tedious lifestyle, which began to have …show more content…
Adèle’s character operates as a foil for Edna’s unawakened character, and forces Edna to awaken to the fact that being a typical Creole woman (like Léonce and the rest of society urges her to be) is not the only lifestyle path she can take. Adèle is the model motherwoman of that time period; she is soft, dresses in clothing such as a dress that was “pure white, with a fluffiness of ruffles that became her,” (page 27) and invariably cares for her husband and children, completely contrasting Edna. This is seen in chapter four when Madame Ratignolle is introduced to the story. She was in the process of crafting a pair of pants for one of her children (caring just like a motherwoman should) and had also brought along a pattern for Mrs. Pontellier to cut for her children as well. Edna cut out the pattern, but had first rejected the idea, her mind “at rest concerning the present material needs of the children,” (page 18) and was unable to “see the use of anticipating and making winter night garments the subject of her summer traditions,” (page 18) essentially placing her desires before her children’s needs. This contradistinction alerts Edna that the grass is not greener on the other side, and that she does not want to live the same lifestyle that Adèle …show more content…
Her husband, Léonce Pontellier, constantly insists that Edna should conform to the motherwoman mold, and also prevents her from realizing that being a motherwoman is not the only road available to take, thus preventing her from awakening. Mrs. Pontellier’s foil, Adèle Ratignolle, highlights everything Edna refutes about being a motherwoman, and pushes her on her path to becoming awakened, and realizing that she has the power to become anything she would like. Lastly, the immense similarity between Edna Pontellier and Mademoiselle Reisz, along with their deep passion for the arts and music, is the agent that also calls for Mrs. Pontellier’s awakening. These supporting characters’ personalities and actions not only entice the recipient of the novel, but they characterize Edna Pontellier’s unawakened self, as well as her developed, awakened self as well. They force all of the characters within the novel to believe that the grass is not always greener on the other side in Kate Chopin’s The
The initial supporting character that creates the unawakened Edna is her husband, Léonce Pontellier. Their relationship created Edna’s tiresome and tedious lifestyle, which began to have …show more content…
Adèle’s character operates as a foil for Edna’s unawakened character, and forces Edna to awaken to the fact that being a typical Creole woman (like Léonce and the rest of society urges her to be) is not the only lifestyle path she can take. Adèle is the model motherwoman of that time period; she is soft, dresses in clothing such as a dress that was “pure white, with a fluffiness of ruffles that became her,” (page 27) and invariably cares for her husband and children, completely contrasting Edna. This is seen in chapter four when Madame Ratignolle is introduced to the story. She was in the process of crafting a pair of pants for one of her children (caring just like a motherwoman should) and had also brought along a pattern for Mrs. Pontellier to cut for her children as well. Edna cut out the pattern, but had first rejected the idea, her mind “at rest concerning the present material needs of the children,” (page 18) and was unable to “see the use of anticipating and making winter night garments the subject of her summer traditions,” (page 18) essentially placing her desires before her children’s needs. This contradistinction alerts Edna that the grass is not greener on the other side, and that she does not want to live the same lifestyle that Adèle …show more content…
Her husband, Léonce Pontellier, constantly insists that Edna should conform to the motherwoman mold, and also prevents her from realizing that being a motherwoman is not the only road available to take, thus preventing her from awakening. Mrs. Pontellier’s foil, Adèle Ratignolle, highlights everything Edna refutes about being a motherwoman, and pushes her on her path to becoming awakened, and realizing that she has the power to become anything she would like. Lastly, the immense similarity between Edna Pontellier and Mademoiselle Reisz, along with their deep passion for the arts and music, is the agent that also calls for Mrs. Pontellier’s awakening. These supporting characters’ personalities and actions not only entice the recipient of the novel, but they characterize Edna Pontellier’s unawakened self, as well as her developed, awakened self as well. They force all of the characters within the novel to believe that the grass is not always greener on the other side in Kate Chopin’s The