Mason Labash
English 48B
March 3, 2011
Journal: The Awakening

 "She understood now clearly what she had meant long ago when she said to Adele Ratignolle that she would give up the unessential, but she would never sacrifice herself for her children."

 "Choked by the cloistering, moralistic garb of the Victorian era, yet willing to give up everything--even her own life--for the freedom of unencumbered individuality, Edna Pontellier epitomized the consummate New Woman of the late nineteenth century. She embodied the social ideals for which women of that era were striving."

              Edna thinks that her children and domestic obligations such as being a loving wife to Leonce are keeping her from pursuing a career as an artist. She feels like her ability to be independent would be greatly limited if she was forced to raise her children and resume living with Leonce. When she uses the word "children" it is representative of the many social restraints  placed on her in the late 1800's a woman. Being in a position where she has the freedom to date men, be independent, and develop her talents and passions is essential. What is unessential is her abiding by the expectation of society to be an entirely family oriented woman. According to her much earlier admission to Adele she would give up her life for her children as part of the unessential.  This shows she does love her children but not enough to sacrifice her own well-being. This is her attempt at trying to reveal some of her deepest feelings with Adele. She is just "awakening" to her individuality and wants to hear the reaction of someone who is an ideal family oriented woman so she can hear her perspective.  She is obviously completely against the social norms that she is supposed to be abiding by.

              It takes so long for her to understand what she meant because she wasn't quite sure of what she wanted out of life. She now realizes that she wants meaningful human relationships with people she cares about like Robert and her children. What she doesn't want is them to restrain her like her marriage with Leonce had once done. Living with Leonce was a constant reminder that she should give in to being the ideal wife that commits self-sacrifice in order to develop an ideal household. Through her visits with Madamoiselle Reisz she came to the conclusion that she didn't want to be as lonely as she was but still wanted to live as independently and freely as she did. Even though Madamoiselle Reisz is lonely Edna is still certain she would rather live a life like that then be confined the way Adele was. Adele's only unique outlet was to play music but even that was coerced into being strictly for the the purpose of brightening her home life. This quote is a simplified way of saying, "I would rather give up the unessential and live like Madamoiselle Reisz and be able to be individualistic and creative than devote my whole existence to my family the way Adele has." It isn't possible for her to be artistic and spirited when she is the stereotypical mother obstructed by duties at home and fully aware of it.




"Kate Chopin's The Awakening: A Critical Reception." Women Writers: A Zine. Web. 04 Mar. 2011. <http://www.womenwriters.net/domesticgoddess/sprinkle.htm>.