Edna rebels again, a few weeks later, when instead of staying home to receive callers, like she is supposed to, she decides to go out for the day. This makes her husband furious. Further in the novel, while he is in the city, Edna uses her husband's money to have an extravagant dinner party in honor of her new-found freedom. Edna even sends her two children to their grandparents house and moves into her own little house across town. Mr. Pontellier is extremely confused about his wife's sudden change of attitude and manner. Elizabeth Le Blanc remarks, "men have an investment in difference that women do not have. They see difference as a symptom of oppression, not a cause for celebration"(Le Blanc). Through all of these little steps toward being an individual, Edna becomes a stronger woman.
Edna has lots of artistic talent. She uses this talent to further her quest for independence. "Chopin's descriptions of Edna's person and physical presence suggest that she was transcending traditional gender descriptions" (Showalter). Mrs. Pontellier has many friends, both male and female, whom she keeps good acquaintances with. These social contacts serve to maintain her place in the upper class circle of New Orleans and keep her abreast of all the news and gossip about the upper class. When Mr. Pontellier leaves for the city Edna begins to take up painting again. She wants to be a real artist when Mademoiselle Reisz tells her that in order to, "be an artist one must possess many gifts- absolute gifts- which have not been acquired by one's own effort. And, moreover, to succeed, the artist must possess the courageous soul" (Chopin 86). Painting allows Edna to feel all of the same liberating emotions of being free to do as she pleases that she experienced while swimming. .
Edna Pontellier relies heavily on the support of her friends to help her in this defiance of her society. In fact, it is sitting on the beach with her good friend, Madame Ratignolle, that Edna first realizes how generally unsatisfied she feels.
