Proto-Feminism In Edna Pontellier's The Awakening

The unavoidable, unshakable feeling of hopeless resignation that she could never escape the roles she had fallen into (i.e. mother, wife, follower of religion) led Edna Pontellier, the proto-feminist main character of The Awakening, to an untimely demise amidst the waves where she had finally decided her life was one she didn’t feel was worth living any longer. Several aspects of Mrs. Pontellier’s life drove her to suicide, such as: feeling as though she was just another piece of Léonce Pontellier’s property, not being able to truly explore the undeniable love she bore for Robert, and feeling trapped by what society deemed “ proper” mother-woman. Feminism in the 1890’s was a radical idea for its time, thus its coinage as “proto-feminism,” or feminism before feminism even existed or was acknowledged. Many women during that period were married with children and were more than happy to cater to their every need, as Adele Ratignolle did with her family. The Seneca Falls Convention, a convention to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women had already come to pass, and outside of the small and confined world the book had taken place in, the rest of the world were just beginning to consider the notion of recognizing women

“Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her.” This, in short, is the beginning of her true awakening to her individuality and awareness of self. Though not entirely aware, Edna had always attempted to be different, to go outside of the lines people had drawn her in and do the exact opposite of what they wanted. For example, Edna Pontellier had ultimately only become Mrs. Pontellier because of her sister’s and father’s heavy disapproval of Léonce’s