The Awakening Chapters 11-17

Summary Leonce returns to Edna and notices how her behavior has changed, and begins to worry for her. Edna’s newfound defiance in her own female skin has created a more individualistic vibe coming from Edna, which oftentimes seems to threaten Leonce. The next morning, Edna surprisingly requests Robert of his company, where they join each other to explore other islands without restriction to the Grand Isle. After Edna feels unwell after a church service, Robert decides to take her to Madame Antonie, a widow and a native of the Cheniere. After awakening from her rest, she joins Robert for dinner and then rests under a tree, listening to women’s stories. When they return, Edna learns that Leonce was concerned about her not returning home after mass, but has been assured Edna was just simply resting.

Summary (Cont.) After putting their children to sleep, Robert heads to bed and Edna recognizes her transformation while she was away. Actually, Edna then doesn't understand why Robert wouldn't stay with her and regrets his departure. Another evening, Edna becomes informed that Robert is leaving for Mexico that night. Edna is shocked and anguished at this. She then goes to her cottage and occupies herself with typical housework. Robert though, comes to visit Edna before his departure and she expresses her disapproval. Edna feels emotional, but resists crying. Edna becomes obsessed with Robert’s departure. She finds out that Leonce met with Robert in New Orleans, and questions him severely about it. Reisz talks to Edna about Robert’s departure, and gives her her address in New Orleans. At Leonce’s extravagant home, he and Edna have dinner. Leonce becomes angry at Edna for abandoning her duties and believes it may damage his business. Edna becomes angry and throws her wedding ring on the floor and attempts to crush it.

Setting The setting of the story begins to stretch itself out upon other barriers not restricted to the Grand Isle, which also aligns with the context of Edna’s developing character of freedom. Edna and Robert travel to many other islands and explore the sea, which basically explain Edna’s exploration of individuality, dipping herself slowly but surely into a less submissive life. Another setting in the story include Madame Antoine's cottage, which provides for the brightening and enlightenment of Edna as she “awakes from her slumber.” Another part of the setting takes place in Leonce’s extravagant home in New Orleans. This structure provides for the expansion of Edna’s anger, to which she even attempts to destroy her wedding ring, which emphasizes Edna’s unhappiness and how she wishes to not be submissive.

Symbol Clothes “Edna let alone in the little side room, loosened her clothes, removing the greater part of them...She took off her shoes and stocking and…” In the beginning, Edna was fully clothed and covered. However, as the novel progressed, Edna begins to remove articles of clothings. This act symbolizes the shedding of societal standards of being a wife, a mother, and even a women. It’s as if the clothes represented the “true women: It represented the side she had to make sure other’s seen her wearing. And with that, he true inner nature was trapped underneath the garment of the “true women”. It was being deprived of the freedom it craved. Now that Edna is beginning to shed the remnants of her old self, her new self can start to emerge.

Symbol Houses Feeling ill in church, Edna is escorted by Robert to Madame Antoine's house to rest. When Edna wakes after her long nap, “”her eyes were bright and wide awake and her face glowed.” This temporary rest in the house represents the shift towards freedom for Edna. It appears that she is looking at the world with a new set of eyes, noticing things she hasn’t before. She even told Robert how the “whole island seems changed.” Although it was said jokingly, the observation holds more depth. The change in the island, represents the change in attitude she has is experiencing.

Houses Continued... Edna is changing from your typical “true women” into the “new women” This transition isn’t prominent, but it is the start of something. In short, Madame Antoine's house is where Edna experiences the start of her awakening After leaving the island, the Pontellier’s return back to their house on Esplanade Street. Their house represents the life of Edna and her husband, a life that fits into the mold of society’s expectations. Edna is expected to take on all her wifely duty roles and follow the rules of women in the world at this time. When Edna decided to leave the house on Tuesday, the sacred “reception day”, it was her trying to escape her usual regular Tuesday routine.

Symbols Wedding Rings ‘Till this day, wedding rings symbolizes the immortal love between two people. Although the Edna has a wedding ring, it doesn't symbolize that eternal love. Instead, it represents the lasting life Edna has signed up for. A life where she has to tend to the needs of her children, cater to her husband, dress a certain way, etc. In short, a life where she plays the role of a “true women”. Notice that the circular shape of the ring. It has no beginning and no end. Also hinting towards that fact, that Edna’s life as Pontellier's wife and a mother is just an endless cycle that she can’t appear to escape from.

Rings Continued... In addition, the rings also represents a symbol of Mr. Pontellier's ownership over Edna. Even when Edna was so frustrated and took off her wedding ring and “flung it upon the carpet” when she stepped on it her heel, “did not make an indenture, not a mark upon the little glittering circlet.” This shows how Edna can’t destroy Mr. Pontellier's possession over her. She realizes that she will be forever be branded as his property and that their isn’t much, or anything at all that she could do about it, which is why at the end of Chapter 17, Edna slips the ring back “upon her finger”.

Quotes “This is more than folly,” he blurted out. “I can’t permit you to stay out there all night. You must come in the house instantly.” With a writing motion she settled herself more securely in the hammock. She perceived that her will had blazed up, stubborn and resistant. She could not at that moment have done other than denied and resisted. She wondered if her husband had ever spoken to her like that before, and if she had submitted to his command. “Leonce, go to bed,” she said I mean to stay out here.”” Analysis: this passage is very important for two reasons. The first reason is because it shows Leonce’s authority over Edna. The words such as “I can’t permit you” and “you must come” and “instantly”, demonstrate how Leonce holds control over Edna and can tell her not only WHAT to do, but WHEN to do it. However, what makes this passage really important that Edna refused to move. is willing to be defiant. Keep in mind, Edna just learned how to swim and conquered the water and was feeling this new feeling of freedom. This outward act of defiance against her husband’s wishes is like Edna going back into the ocean waters again. Still on this high, and testing where this freedom can take her.

Quotes “Tell him I am going to the Cheniere. The boat is ready; tell him to hurry.” He had soon joined her. She had never sent for him before. She had never asked for him. She had never seemed to want him before.” Analysis: This passage is highly important because it shows the transformation that is taking place within Edna. Instead of spending times with her family or her husband, she actually leaves them to go off and the spend the day with Robert. Even within the quote, the repeated phrase, “She had never” demonstrates that Edna is straying from her role as the “true women” and is starting to experience things that she never thought of doing before. Because she is going alone, without her kids or husband, it shows her step towards independence. Not only that, put it shows how Edna is trying something that has nothing to do with the life she has now. It's as if she is leaving her old life behind, to discover something new, something fresh, which is why she asked for Robert. Robert is the opposite of Lenoce and supports the side of Edna that her husband and society reprimand.

Quotes “When Etienne had fallen asleep Edna bore him into the back room, and Robert went and lifted the mosquito bar that she might lay the child comfortably in his bed. The quadroon had vanished. When they emerged from the cottage Robert bad Edna goodnight. “Do you know we have been together the whole livelong day, Robert--since early this morning?” she said at parting. “All but the hundred years when you were sleeping. Goodnight.” Analysis - It’s at this point, that the nature of Edna’s and Robert’s relationship has grown more intimate. The quote above shows Edna and Robert like a little family. While Edna is already of wife tucking in her child to bed, instead of Leconce, Robert is the husband helping her. It’s almost as if Chopin is demonstrating to readers, how Edna wished her life was. A life where she could spend the “whole livelong day” with Robert and then come home and took their son into bed.Their relationship has taken a tone familiarity, that Edna and Robert don’t even question it. By Robert assuming this husband role, their relationship is developing and progressing than more than just friends.

Quotes “Edna began to feel like one who awakens gradually out of a dream, a delicious, grotesque, impossible dream, to feel again the realities pressing into her soul. The physical need for sleep began to overtake her; the exuberance which had sustained and exalted her spirit left her helpless and yielding to the conditions which crowded her in.” Analysis: This passage is very important because it describes Edna’s initial transformation into how she feels as an individual, yet emphasizes how society won't actually let her utilize those ideas. Basically, Edna feels as if she's gradually coming to a realization, but how her expected submissiveness likely won't allow for it to actually occur. Her “exuberance” yields the conditions that crowded her in though, likely foreshadowing a final breaking free of the shackles of societal sight. I think we have a pretty kick butt presentation...