ipl-logo

Cultural Boundaries In The Awakening

551 Words3 Pages

In “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin the author describes the cultural boundaries in Edna Pontellier's society throughout the novel. In addition, in Stephen Greenblatt’s “Culture” essay he says that “ beliefs and practices that form a given culture function as a pervasive technology of control, a set of limits within which social behavior must be contained, a repertoire of models in which individuals must confirm.”(Greenblatt) What Greenblatt states about how and what forms a culture can be seen with Edna Pontellier and other characters in “ The Awakening”. From the way the mother and wife of the family should act to the way she takes care of her family have all been influenced by cultural boundaries. In Edna’s society people had to follow the …show more content…

For example at the beginning of the novel Leonce Pontellier tells his wife Edna that Raoul has a fever and reproaches her for not looking after the children. The narrator explains Leonce reaction by saying, “ If it was not a mother's place to look after children, whose on earth was it? [Leonce] himself had his hands full with his brokerage business. He could not be in two places at once….”(Chopin 5) This shows how in the society of New Orleans women were supposed to take care of her children and if she did not or made a mistake people did not find it appropriate or right. In addition, men in the society were supposed to go to work and earn money for their family. This can be seen with Leonce Pontellier and Robert Lebrun. Leonce always goes to the city or away on business to earn money and be able to buy nice things for his wife and kids. In addition, when Robert is being described by the narrator it says , “ Robert spoke about his intentions to go to Mexico in the autumn, where fortune awaited him.” (Chopin 4) Then when he comes back from Mexico he explains to Edna that he only came back because business was the same in Mexico as in New Orleans. Both Robert and Leonce’s actions show how the culture and social norms of their society influence what they do and how they

Show More
Related
1140 Words | 5 Pages

Raymond headed to California and returned only a few days later empty handed. To his surprise he found that Californians wanted his work just as much as Southerners did. This marked a very low point in the Moody’s lives that left them feeling that they were “doomed to poverty and more unhappiness than we had before” (Moody 118). Annie experienced this same issue when she went to New Orleans. She traveled there hoping to find a job waitressing at a restaurant.

Read More
1639 Words | 7 Pages

Social constraints were often inflicted upon women and children in an attempt to restrict them to the viewpoints of society. Social restraints are the external controls on an individual’s freedom maintained by society, and were most enforced during the 1890s and 1950s. Two examples of these social restrictions are shown in The Awakening by Kate Chopin and Dead Poets Society directed by Peter Weir. The Awakening takes place in 1890s Creole society in New Orleans and follows the main character, Edna Pontellier, as she breaks away from societal norms and restrictions. Edna learns to think for herself and breaks away from societal restrictions by leaving her husband, Leónce, moving to her own home, and having an affair.

Read More
825 Words | 4 Pages

Women during Edna’s time were supposed to be dedicated to their husbands and children, however, Edna yearned for her own independence, and as a result of wanting her own independence Edna knew that she was seen as a terrible person. For instance Edna wanted to “…try to determine what character of a woman I am; for, candidly, I don't know. By all the codes which I am acquainted with, I am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can't convince myself that I am. I must think about it" (27.4).

Read More
739 Words | 3 Pages

Women were supposed to be perfect wives. An ideal wife meant that she must be “useful and the ornamental…this is what we expect of the average American wife, merely as a matter of course” (Dix “The American Wife 129). Mademoiselle Reisz is not an exemplary wife, she has never even married. She has her own distinctive interpretation of useful and ornamental: useful to the cause of women seeking to be free of social constraints, and ornamenting her community as its peerless pianist. The concern at a breach of the idealized expectation of a housewife is expressed loud and clear by Mr. Pontellier while he admonishes Edna for ignoring their weekly routine: “people don’t do such things; we’ve got to observe les convenances if we ever expect to get on and keep up” (Chopin 74).

Read More
1386 Words | 6 Pages

In Kate Chopin’ s novel, The Awakening, there are three identities inside of the female leading role, Edna Pontellier, being a wife, mother and own self. Edna was born in 19th century at the Vitoria period, a patriarchy society, women have low freedom to achieve personal goal. She married with Léonce Pontellier, a wealthy man with Creole descent. After having a child, her life is still unchangeable and as bored as before. Until she encountered Robert Leburn, Mademoiselle Reisz, and Alcée Arobin, her value of self-cognition has changed.

Read More
849 Words | 4 Pages

Edna continually questions whether or not she is destined to live a life of subordination or if she can find her own freedom. Edna Pontellier’s defiant nature is brought out

Read More
1283 Words | 6 Pages

Edna broke free from the mold of her society. She was trying to find her purpose and her worth in a world where she did not have many rights or individual stability. Edna Pontellier worked to disregard the influence and power of men and society as a whole to discover more about herself and what she really wanted out of life (Bommarito). She gave up the “unessential” such as her home, possessions, and reputation to do things for

Read More
106 Words | 1 Pages

Edna lived in different societies in “The Awakening.” The societies had different characteristic that helped the novel develop, but most importantly help shape Edna to the way she is. The creole society portrayed a great effect on Edna’s awakening into being open and passionate about herself. The vacationing at Grand Isle also played a key part in the heroine 's life. When Edna swam in the ocean for the first time, it aroused her in a physical way.

Read More
822 Words | 4 Pages

Chopin’s novel and short story provides awareness of the lack of independence and individuality that women are granted in that era. Chopin’s voices how Louise and Enda becomes accustom to living according to what the man of the house desires. “Then would be no power will bending hers in that blind persistence” (The Story of An hour). With Louise husband being gone, he would no longer interfere with her actions or even overrule what she has to say. Louise would be completely free from his authority.

Read More
1215 Words | 5 Pages

She was following society and she decided it was time to change because she was leading a life in which she had no interest. There is also irony in this quote between the flowers and antagonistic. Flowers are usually something of beauty and love, but instead here they are portrayed as being hostile This kind of relates back to the situation Edna is in because she lives a life in which a lot of people are jealous of. Two healthy kids, a wealthy husband, and the security of a good life, but she sees it as a place where she is held captive and cant be free to do what she wants whenever she wants to do it. Here she is struggling within herself because on the outside she knows she lives a life that is fine, but in the inside she knows she wants

Read More
1210 Words | 5 Pages

This socially constructed identity is the first of the many that Edna grapples with in the text. It is the identity of women within the time period of the text. In the words of Dix, Edna’s identity is meant to be that of a typical American wife who will control the home, children and entertain socially yet remain obedient to her working husband (146). ‘Looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property’ (Chopin 4). The

Read More
58 Words | 1 Pages

In conclusion, Greenblatt states that culture is defined as a collection of infinite guidelines and regulations that people within a society follow. These guidelines and regulations are, however, inconsequential without cultural boundaries and limitations. In The Awakening Kate Chopin conveys how the novel strikes in opposition to society’s standards through the characters of Edna Pontellier and Robert Lebrun.

Read More
1044 Words | 5 Pages

This novel, The Awakening, is about a woman named Edna Pontellier learns to think of herself as an independent human being. Also, Edna Pontellier refuses to obey against the social norms by leaving her husband Leónce Pontellier and having an affair with Robert Lebrun. Kate Chopin describes societal expectations and the battle of fitting the mold of motherhood in the Awakening by how Edna Pontellier and Adele Ratignolle contribute to their family in different ways. Edna Pontellier’s attitude toward motherhood is that she is not a perfect mother-women. Adele Ratignolle’s attitude toward motherhood is that she is a perfect mother-women.

Read More
519 Words | 3 Pages

Within the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Madame Ratignolle’s character possesses traits that emphasize, by contrast the characteristics and behavior of Edna Pontellier. Despite being close friends within the novel, Adele and Edna have contrasting views and behaviors that illuminate the theme of female freedom and the tradition of female submission and male domination. Madame Ratignolle and Edna Pontellier are close friends, but their views toward raising children differ fundamentally. Madame Ratignolle would sacrifice her identity to devote herself entirely to her children, household, and husband, whereas Edna would not. Besides their views towards raising children, how they raise their children also differs.

Read More
1036 Words | 5 Pages

CQ: Creole culture values place women in a submissive role while granting men the ability act as dominantly and freely as they wish. Why does the Creole society isolate Edna while idolizing Adele? In Kate Chopin’s

Read More

More about Cultural Boundaries In The Awakening

Related Topics

Open Document