Leighton Marriage Analysis

The marriage of Senator Leighton and his wife Emily is more similar to Leonce Pontellier and Edna’s marriage because of the unequal power and the lack of communication, but the Leighton’s marriage was restored whereas the Pontellier marriage had collapsed.
Both the Pontellier and Leighton marriages display that there is unequal power and lack of communication between the two families. When Leonce and Edna ate dinner together one evening, he learned that Edna was out and he exclaimed, “Out! … Why, what could have taken you out on Tuesday? What did you have to do?” Leonce’s reaction represented the unequal power in their marriage because Edna was expected to be at home during her reception day and follow her set routine. Leonce displays as a dominant figure and a God in their marriage whic hhe is in all controlled of. The lack of communication between their marriages is a major factor …show more content…
However, when Edna decided to disobey Leonce, this indicated the inequality within their marriage because in an equal marriage, disobeying is not a symbol of a healthy marriage. In the Leighton marriage, Emily has secretly donated money to the National Woman Suffrage Association without acknowledging her husband. A few days later, Democratic Senator Leighton had read in the newspaper that she had donated money to contribute towards the National Woman Suffrage Association without letting her husband know. A few days later, Senator Leighton was infuriated with what he had read in the newspaper about how she donated the money towards the NWSA, ultimately closing down her account without asking for her approval. The lack of communication and unequal power within the two marriages developed secrets and fear of dominance within the two marriages. Democratic Senator Leighton had the authority to cancel her account