The novella, The Awakening, is about Edna Pontellier and her conflicts with the standards of society. Women of the society are expected to be the ideal wife, which consist of staying at home, taking care of her children, and worshiping her husband. The short novel starts off with Edna and her family on vacation at La Grand Isle. While at La Grand Isle, spending her time with Robert Lebrun, Edna realizes that she needs to become her own person. Throughout their time at La Grand Isle Robert and Edna become very close and almost lovers. A part of Edna's “awakening” is when Robert teaches her how to swim. After she comes out the water she is changed and becomes reborn. At one point Robert realizes that they can not be together because Edna is married and he does not want to ruin her marriage with Leonce, her husband. In The Awakening Chopin provides Robert with the characteristics of being flirtatious, cowardly, and honest.
Growing up in the Creole culture, where flirting is not taken seriously, Robert considers flirting a natural thing. Though the attention that Robert gives to Edna is taken seriously by Edna. Early in the novel Edna, Leonce, their children, and
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When Edna finds out that he is back in town she convinces him to eat dinner with her and at their dinner Robert and Edna rekindle their friendship and Robert confesses that he loved her and still loves her and that while he was in Mexico he was thinking of her. Robert also told Edna why they can not be together. Robert said, “ ‘Why? Because you were not free; you were Leonce Pontellier’s wife. I couldn't help loving you if you were ten times his wife, but so long as I went away from you and kept away I could help telling you so,’ ” (Chopin 116). Robert is honest when Edna asks why they could not be