The Development Of Edna Pontellier In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, traces the development of Edna Pontellier as she discovers her true identity, as well as her sexuality. She begins the story as a fairly typical woman of the time: submissive, modest, and ladylike. By the end of the book, she is stubborn, bold, and truly free. To provide contrast to Edna and her development, Chopin includes the characters of Mademoiselle Reisz and Adele Ratignolle, women who are as different from each other as they are from Edna. Edna, Mlle Reisz, and Adele provide examples of the different types of women of their time period, as well as a gauge by which one can measure Edna’s growth. Edna stands out from Reisz and Adele, first and foremost, because she is not Creole; she is from Kentucky. She lacks the ease of expression that the other two women have. Edna is quite reserved and hesitant to show outward affection, even to her own children. When others show her affection, she is bashful because she still has not adjusted to such expression. Adele, on the other hand, is described as a “mother-woman”—one who prioritizes her …show more content…
When Adele is first introduced, she is described as Edna’s best friend, someone influential and meaningful in Edna’s life. As the story progresses, she becomes distant towards Adele, not seeking out her presence. The friendship remains, but has a far lesser effect on Edna. This mirrors Edna’s growth away from being a “good woman” towards being herself. The further Edna drifts from Adele, the closer she gets to Mlle Reisz. Mlle Reisz seems to be fairly minor when she is first mentioned, but, especially after their return to New Orleans, Edna grows attached to her, spending more time with her. They develop a greater level of familiarity, so much so that Edna relaxes at Mlle Reisz’s apartment when she is not even home. Edna’s comfort with Mlle Reisz is symbolic of Edna’s growing comfort and understanding of