Hallie Amat
Mrs. Schroder
AP Literature
3 January 2017
Edna’s Isolation in The Awakening
Authors frequently use the theme of isolation to demonstrate how a particular society treats people who differ from the norm. Characters’ gender, race, or class often lead to their alienation and can create other problems stemming from that. In The Awakening, protagonist Edna Pontellier’s status as a woman means that society places certain expectations on her behavior, and when she refuses to conform, she eventually becomes a sort of outcast who is immensely unhappy. Throughout history, women have been systematically oppressed and expected to act one particular way, especially in the late 1800’s, when The Awakening takes place. In New Orleans, the women …show more content…
She is not able to completely reconcile her eventual independence with reality; although Edna does what she pleases, she ignores the consequences of such behavior. Independence does not mean one should neglect any and all responsibilities and moral values. For example, she thinks that since no one can or should control her, infidelity with Alceé Arobin is perfectly acceptable. The sexual liberation of women was a huge part of the feminist movement, but Edna deciding to break the expectations for married females in this way would generally be considered immoral. Similarly, she leaves her home with Leonce in order to sever ties and stop relying on him financially, but in doing so, abandons her children. The author uses two other female characters, Adele and Mademoiselle Reisz, to contrast their independence with Edna’s. They both freely speak their minds and do not feel pressured by society to perform a certain way, and yet are still respected and accepted by others. Edna’s brand of independence, on the other hand, could be regarded as selfish and careless, as her actions harm the people around her, particularly her family. However, it could be argued that society’s harsh expectations of women at the time pushed her to make certain decisions in the romantic and familial aspects of her life that she was initially against. It is made abundantly clear that she only married Leonce and had his children out of obligation, and that she does not care for that life at all. If society did not impose the idea that women should get married and raise a family, would Edna have chosen that path? Perhaps one of the most tragic aspects of The Awakening is that in this point in her life, there was no feasible way for Edna to be completely free and
Mrs. Schroder
AP Literature
3 January 2017
Edna’s Isolation in The Awakening
Authors frequently use the theme of isolation to demonstrate how a particular society treats people who differ from the norm. Characters’ gender, race, or class often lead to their alienation and can create other problems stemming from that. In The Awakening, protagonist Edna Pontellier’s status as a woman means that society places certain expectations on her behavior, and when she refuses to conform, she eventually becomes a sort of outcast who is immensely unhappy. Throughout history, women have been systematically oppressed and expected to act one particular way, especially in the late 1800’s, when The Awakening takes place. In New Orleans, the women …show more content…
She is not able to completely reconcile her eventual independence with reality; although Edna does what she pleases, she ignores the consequences of such behavior. Independence does not mean one should neglect any and all responsibilities and moral values. For example, she thinks that since no one can or should control her, infidelity with Alceé Arobin is perfectly acceptable. The sexual liberation of women was a huge part of the feminist movement, but Edna deciding to break the expectations for married females in this way would generally be considered immoral. Similarly, she leaves her home with Leonce in order to sever ties and stop relying on him financially, but in doing so, abandons her children. The author uses two other female characters, Adele and Mademoiselle Reisz, to contrast their independence with Edna’s. They both freely speak their minds and do not feel pressured by society to perform a certain way, and yet are still respected and accepted by others. Edna’s brand of independence, on the other hand, could be regarded as selfish and careless, as her actions harm the people around her, particularly her family. However, it could be argued that society’s harsh expectations of women at the time pushed her to make certain decisions in the romantic and familial aspects of her life that she was initially against. It is made abundantly clear that she only married Leonce and had his children out of obligation, and that she does not care for that life at all. If society did not impose the idea that women should get married and raise a family, would Edna have chosen that path? Perhaps one of the most tragic aspects of The Awakening is that in this point in her life, there was no feasible way for Edna to be completely free and