Gatsby, The Concept Of Risk-Taking Fits Into Mrs. Edna Pontellier

341 Words2 Pages
Like Gatsby, the concept of risk taking fits into Mrs. Edna Pontellier’s philosophy, which is evidenced in her statement, “It is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one's life” (434). A decision she made based on a choice that not only helped in her self-discovery but also put her on the road to destruction. Edna was born and bred in Kentucky. After her marriage to Leonce Pontellier, who is a Creole and a Catholic, she moved to Louisiana with Leonce. The change of surroundings makes Edna feel extremely uncomfortable and disconcerted. She feels as though she has lost her ecstasy and identity. She struggles to define herself as an active subject and to cease to be merely the passive object