Analysis Of Mademoiselle Reisz In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

“She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before” (47). In The Awakening, the narrator, Kate Chopin writes the eye opening story of Edna Pontellier. One summer, Edna, her husband, Leonce, and her kids go to a resort in Grand Isle for vacation. There Edna made several friends who change her life. During her vacation she becomes freer, more individualistic, and finds her true self. As she gets to know more about Robert, she develops feelings for him and goes through an internal conflict of whether if she wants to be with her husband or Robert. When she chooses Robert, he leaves for a business trip. Edna gets depressed and grew as an individual and away from society’s expectations.

Edna has taken a liking to her but others thought differently. They thought, "[Mademoiselle Reisz] was a disagreeable little woman, no longer young, who had quarreled with almost everyone, owing to a temper which was self-assertive and a disposition to trample upon the rights to others"(43). Mademoiselle Reisz contradicts all the characteristics women are thought to have. She isn’t timid or sweet, and she is completely independent. Not many people seem to like this, but Mademoiselle lives her own life without worrying about what others think. And even though she isn’t the happiest with others and the world, she is happy with the way she is and with her life. Mademoiselle is a new character to many others. Her characteristics aren’t widely liked during the time period she is present. She’s a significant character because she gave Edna motivation to also have a life of her own. Without her Mademoiselle Reisz might not have rebelled against society and do what she wished. Its takes a lot of motivation to break through society’s expectations, and Mademoiselle is the little boost Edna needs to live her own

Robert is one of many who shares this view, but to educate him Edna says, “‘You have been a very, very foolish boy, wasting your time dreaming of impossible things when you speak of Mr. Pontellier setting me free! I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier's possessions to dispose of or not. I give myself where I choose.’” (178 ). Edna enlightens Robert with they fact that it’s going to be her who is going to give herself up to him and not Leonce. She states that she isn’t Leonce’s property with goes against the Louisiana law at the time. The more independent she got through the book, the more she saw her own self-worth. She calls Robert out for not realizing that she owns herself and no one else does. Edna has confidence to talk back to a man even if it’s considered