There was much change in the time between the Civil War and World War I, two of the biggest wars fought by the United States. The US went from a frontier land to an industrial enterprise. In this time there was the introduction of steel which led to the transcontinental railroad lines. Above all there was a change in Civil Rights, The Emancipation Proclamation was written. giving rights to slaves, woman suffrage grew, eventually granting women more rights. These changes in our country sparked changes in literature, “New themes, new forms, new subjects, new regions, new authors, and new audiences emerged” (Nina Baym et. al., 7). A new back of writers were suddenly accepted into the literary world, bringing with them new ideas. One of these authors …show more content…
They have a role in the family, and that is to simply raise the children, that and keep their husbands happy. In The Awakening there is a perfect example of this kind of woman: Madame Ratignolle. Above all Madame Ratignolle was considered a “mother-woman” (567). Women should “idolized their children, worshiped their husband, and esteem it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.” (567) We see these traits are attributed quite clearly to Madam Ratignolle, who has to be “persuaded to leave her children” (568) even for the shortest amounts of time. She made a large family and is happy with being tasked to raise it and love her husband, a successful pharmacist. We also see her attempt to hinder Edna’s awakening, she makes an effort to keep Robert away from her, more inclined to keep up social appearances then willing to see that her friend is happier with another man. While being very good friends with Edna, we see Edna’s disproval of her lifestyle, calling it a “colorless existence” that is filled with “blind contentment.” (605) All in all, in Madam Ratignolle we see what a man would expect in a woman, we see a lack of opinion and power, we see the opposite of Edna Pontellier, the protagonist of our