Posted by Kammy Sahota (24.180.58.128) on July 11, 2005 at 8:40:33 p.m.:
In Reply to: Question One: The Awakening posted by Jeanne Guerin on July 8, 2005 at 8:52:43 a.m.:
I thought Edna was the deptiction of true femininity in terms of being an independant woman and perhaps ahead of her time as far as feminism goes. She always seemed to shun the traditional roles of the female whereas Adele relished them and her view of true femininity was that of the more traditional type. Edna was never big on monogamy or being the kind of wife that Mr. Pontellier would find ideal and that society deemed as appropriate feminine behavior. While Adele's view of femininity does not fit my beliefs, they are the traditional feminine beliefs that were pervelant at the time.
Mr. Lebrun and Mr. Pontellier both fit the model of masculinity as they expected to be the bread winners as the women stayed at home and tended the house and children. Mr. Pontellier never seemed to be around, always distant,which is why I believe Edna was the way she was in terms of her views of family. It was mostly evident in the way Mr. Pontellier seemed to scold Edna and make her feel inferior at times for not being the model wife in his mind.