Angel in the House vs. Satan in the House In The Awakening by Kate Chopin the main character, Edna Pontellier, believes that she should not have to follow the societal roles for a woman during this time period, but should instead have the free will to do as she pleases. This is unlike the character Adele Ratignolle because in the novel she seems to happily conform to these roles that society has placed on her and takes pride in doing so. Kate Chopin essentially creates two contradicting characters, Edna and Adele, in order to illustrate the struggles of a rebellious woman versus a conformist woman in a sexist society. This is shown throughout the novel by how both women perceive the “mother-woman” role, how they perceive their husbands and
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This is due to the fact that in the novel Edna and Adele have opposite feelings and ways of dealing with their children. Edna is not nurturing mother and the novel shows this when it states that, “ If one of the little Pontellier boys [takes] a tumble whilst at play, he [is] not apt to rush crying to his mother’s arms for comfort; he would more likely pick himself up, wipe the water out of his eyes and the sand out of his mouth , and go on playing” (Chopin 10). Additionally, Edna sees her children as “antagonists who [have] overcome her, who [have] overpowered her and sought to drag her into the soul’s slavery for the rest of her days” which shows that Edna just sees her children as a burden instead of a blessing (Chopin 155). This contrasts with Adele completely since Adele is a very nurturing mother and the novel expresses this when it states that, “Her little ones [run] up to meet her. Two of them [cling] about her white skirts, the third she [takes] from its nurse and with a thousand endearments bore it along in her own fond, encircling arms” (Chopin 16). At the same time, Adele also sees her children as the sole reason for living and spends most of her time caring for them.These different interpretations that the women have of their own children shows the reader that in their society a blessing for some can conversely be a curse to
This is due to the fact that in the novel Edna and Adele have opposite feelings and ways of dealing with their children. Edna is not nurturing mother and the novel shows this when it states that, “ If one of the little Pontellier boys [takes] a tumble whilst at play, he [is] not apt to rush crying to his mother’s arms for comfort; he would more likely pick himself up, wipe the water out of his eyes and the sand out of his mouth , and go on playing” (Chopin 10). Additionally, Edna sees her children as “antagonists who [have] overcome her, who [have] overpowered her and sought to drag her into the soul’s slavery for the rest of her days” which shows that Edna just sees her children as a burden instead of a blessing (Chopin 155). This contrasts with Adele completely since Adele is a very nurturing mother and the novel expresses this when it states that, “Her little ones [run] up to meet her. Two of them [cling] about her white skirts, the third she [takes] from its nurse and with a thousand endearments bore it along in her own fond, encircling arms” (Chopin 16). At the same time, Adele also sees her children as the sole reason for living and spends most of her time caring for them.These different interpretations that the women have of their own children shows the reader that in their society a blessing for some can conversely be a curse to