An exitence far richer

The Edna Pontellier presented at the beginning of the novel, stands in stark contrast to the Edna Pontellier at the end of the novel. Edna begins the novel as somewhat of a reluctant house wife. She subjects herself to the rule and will of her husband, Leonce. Through many instances, the reader becomes aware that Edna does not function out of her own wants or needs, she functions out of obligation. One of the most apparent instances of this impulse occurs when Leonce goes to check on

The final awakening that Edna has is perhaps the most perplexing and unusual awakening anyone could have. When Robert returns from Mexico, Edna longs for him once again and they continue their relationship, despite Robert’s initial reluctance. The begin to share an intimate moment where they kiss and hold each other, when it is interrupted by the pregnancy of Adele Ratignolle, Edna’s close friend. Edna goes to her out of obligation and after the delivery, Adele tells Edna to “Think of the children ... Oh think of the children!" When Edna returns to the house that she lived in where she left Robert there is only a note there saying "I love you. Good- by—because I love you." These two statements given to Edna on the day before she dies, led to her taking of her own life. The next day, reflecting on the fact that she will never be able to have Robert and she will never lose the fact that she has her children, who she sees as a curse, Edna decides that only means to total liberation and independence from the world that she so loathes is through leaving this world through her death. This ultimate act of Edna shows that she did not ever lose her self to society and that she would never give it up for anything, not even her children. Edna’s conflict essentially was that she could not function in the society that represented the oppression of her self, and because of that, there was no place for her in the society.

In Robert and Leonce’s absence, Edna is craving some form of companionship, and unfortunately for her, it comes in the form of a man named, Alcee Arobin. Edna begins entertaining the idea of having her own house next door to the one that they currently live in. She intends on paying for it with the money she would make from drawing and the winnings she makes at the racetracks. It is at these racetracks that the “romance” between Edna and Arobin began. At this point in the novel, Edna is functioning almost entirely on her own will. She has mandated to her husband that she is going to have her own house, disregarding his protest, she has given up caring for her children entirely, who have been left in the care of others, and she is spending her time doing whatever she feels like doing in the moment. Edna even gains a sense of satisfaction when sh

Some topics in this essay:
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