I need help anaylzing a book called The Awakening by Kate Chopin......?

Question

I am in a literature group and we are studying a novel called The Awakening. We decided upon some questions (about 50) to analyze the book with. I have 48 questions done, but two I find hard to explain.... Can anyone help me on these questions

What kind of marriage do Edna and Leonce Pontellier have? Point to scences, actions, or statements to support your view.

For what purpose does Chopin include minor characters such as Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz? Is Edna similar/different? How?

Can anyone could help me?

Thanks

-Ace

Answer 1

Edna and Leonce have a marriage based more in societal standards than in love. They have a marriage that's probably typical of the time of which this novel is written, with the exception of Edna's response to it. Edna's feelings about Leonce is the atypical part of the situation. Because in the first chapter when Edna is thinking about/talking about Leonce, she says when was pressed she could not have asked for better, but the fact is, Edna does not want to be married and that's the problem with Ednas marriage. If she's married she wants a relationship filled with passion not with niceties and chocolates and flowers that he brings her. Edna wants passion and love. Aside from her sexual affair, at the beginning of the book she's angry with Leonce for leaving her with the children that she deoesn't really care for that much and she takes her wedding ring off, throws it on the floor and steps on it. She has a marriage of convenience, a marriage of the times, and is typical in every way except Edna's feelings about it.

Chopin includes people like Adele and Reisz because they are specific parts of Edna's personality. Adele is the ultimate wife and mother and Reisz is the ultimate spinster and Edna is pulled between those two worlds.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

that's a tricky question.