Gender Stereotypes In The Awakening

Throughout history women have been expected to fit into a rigid gender stereotype. Women in the mid 1900s would be expected to care for children, be able to do household duties and obey everything their husbands instructed. Those women that did not fit the stereotype were looked down upon by society and were alienated. In the novel The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, the author uses the characters and their actions to express the oppression and expectations society had towards women. Edna, the protagonist, fought with her inner conflict of not wanting to conform to society's standards throughout the novel. Over, and over again she was reminded of the fact that she was different and that society did not approve of her way of thinking. The character

Pontellier expected her to listen to his orders and carry out the role of housewife. Mr. Pontellier saw Edna as a piece of property. He would be wary of her actions in order to keep a high and clean status in society. He was on business trips throughout most of the novel or he would be working, yet never the less he would sent Edna gift and treats in order to give society the idea that he was loving and caring. Yet, behind closed doors he would argue frequently with Edna and disapprove of her actions. "’You are burnt beyond recognition,’ he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage’ (Chopin 3). Mr. Pontellier executed control over Edna's actions, he would use his immense network of sources in order to cover up anything that would ruin his crystal clear and perfect image. He would also remind her that he has control over her actions, and life. For example, when Edna first started to act on her own behalf and ignored his orders he would argue until she became exhausted. “‘This is more than folly,’ he blurted out. ‘I can’t permit you to stay out here all night. You must come in the house instantly.’”(Chopin 42). By not stepping inside the house after he ordered her to go inside, he showed Edna that he was free to do anything he wanted and that she was a puppet to him. “‘Are you coming in, Leonce?’ she asked, turning her face toward her husband. ‘Yes,

She had an immense love towards Robert, yet when he left she filled the void with Arobin even though she never loved him. Thus she was back in a loveless relationship, then when Robert came back there was tension between them, they weren’t like before. When Edna finally confessed her love to him and he responded with mutual feelings, he asked for her hand and she denied because she did not want to belong to anyone. When she came back in order to finish her conversation with the love of her life, she discovers that even he does not agree with her thinking and claims to give up on her out of love. At the end of the novel, Edna feeling hopeless, due to the fact that her husband had immense power over society and could hide her actions, and thinking that no one understood her, commits suicide. “ Exhaustion was pressing upon and overpowering her. ‘Good-by—because I love you.’ He did not know; he did not understand. He would never understand”(Chopin 156). Edna believed that no one would ever understand her and that she was never going to be able to live the life that she