Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Awakening Group 1 Question - Response
1. Trace the development of the male figures in the novel: Robert Lebrun, Mr. Pontellier, Alcee Arobin, Dr. Mandalet. Assess each character in terms of A) his philosophy of life, B)his sensitivity toward women, and C). his understanding of and relationship to Edna. Assess each man’s positive and negative characteristics and contribution to meaning in the novel. Consider how these male characters figure into Chopin’s theme of individual vs. society. In what sense is each man able, or unable to truly love?
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Back then, the expectations of society in a couple gave women few opportunities for individual expression and independence. Edna is expected to perform doestic duties and care for her family health and happiness, instead of her own needs and wants. "Took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm" (Chopin 24). The wedding rings symbolizes the control Mr. Pontellier has on Edna being that he is her husband. Although he gives Edna time to herself, he believes, like society, that his wife's life should revolve around her family. He treats Edna with love and kindness but their relationship lacks passion and excitement, and he knows very little of his wife's true feelings and emotions. "She's got some sort of notion in her head concerning the eternal rights of women" (Chopin 88). Mr. Pontellier will never be able to trulylove due to his wife does not purely love him and in this case it's not where the person are, it's where she wants to be in which she wants to be with Robert.
ReplyDelete"It was some utter nonsense; some adventure out there in the water, and they both tried to relate it at once" (Chopin 24). This quote reveals the connection Edna shares with Robert that differs from her husband's in which they both couldn't even explain something that previously happened on the beach to him. R obert's flirtations inspired Edna ro forget her constraints and to begin revealing herself to others. During her awakening, Edna discover her own identity and inner emotions held inside. "THere was Robert's reproach making itself by a quicker, fiercer, more overpowering love, which had awakened within her toward him" (Chopin 106). She sees in him a promise of the love and excitement that have been missing from her life since she married Leonce. Although they both truly love each other, they would not be able to express their love and live happily together due to Robert decides to live by the society rules.
ReplyDeleteEdna does not tells Alcee Arobin no but also does not lead on the physical attraction between them due to her love for Robert and her rediscovery of her sex desire. "It was the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded. It was a flaming torch that kindled desire" (Chopin 106). Edna's only regret at the time was not kissing another man but that the kiss was not of love. Throughout the affai, Edna retains authority and control. Although Arobin satifies Edna physical desires, she is truly in love with Ribert Lebrun. Due to Edna is married and is in love with Robert, Arobin only part in Edna's life is her physical lover but throughout the novel he never mentions a relationship nor love so it's obvious that is the relationship he wants.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mr. Pontellier consults with Dr. MAndalet about his wife's strange behavior, the doctor suspects that Edna is in love with another man but he keeps his suspicions to himself because further constraints imposed on her will push her to leave. "Don;t bother her and don't let her bother you... This is some passing whim of your wife, due to some cause or causes which you and I needn't try to fathom. But it will pass happily over" (CHopin 89). He offers his help and understanding and is worried about the possible consequences of her defiance and independence. Dr. MAndalet knows this behavior and the reason to the behavior because his wife is going through the same thing. Dr. MAndalet tells Mr. Pontellier to send his wife to him so he can talk to her about society rules in which he believe in the laws. Due to his wife experienceing that same thing and him knowing that their is nothing a husband can do when his wife bahaves this way suggest the he too will not have true love.
ReplyDeleteThe men in Edna's life hold a different form of relationship and interactions with Edna, that for more or less, uts her in uneasy situations. Alcee Arobin is a skilled ladies man present in Edna's life as he desires her and pretty much yearns to take control of her by displaying passionate love. "He responded at once presenting himself at her home...there was scarcely a day where she did not see him or was not reminded of him..." (Chopin 108). The fact that Alcee is ubiquitous and that he and Edna are close depicts the potentially damaging situation Edna is put in as she may easily submit to his true love and the passion he exudes for her. Alcee is charming and is mos likely to use this charming presence to get a woman or as a way to tempt married woman, as is the case with Edna. Leonce is the stereotypical 1950's man who wants the traditional 1950's 'Stepford' wife. He believes Edna should be at home performing the dometic chores and basially living olely for the family, something Edna highly rejects, which more or less results in their lack of pasion and excitement in their marriage. "He reproached his wife with her inattention... If it was not a mother's place to look after the children, who's on earth was it? " (Chopin 6-7). Because Mr. Ponellier was so busy and "had his hands full with the brokerage business"(Chopin 7), he felt it was Edna's sole responsibility to nurture and care for the children.
ReplyDeleteRobert LeBrun is the hopeless romantic in Edna's life, as he is still a single man, despite the many interactions he has had with lonesome women, including Edna, despite the fling the two experience. Robert, like Alcee, is passionately in love with Edna and uses many interactions with her as excuses to get closer than comfort with her. " Shall I stay out with you until Mr. Pontellier comes? Asked Robert" ( Chopin 40), depicts how Robert used the extended time with Edna as a way to stay with her, even acknowledging the pink elephant in the room: the fact that Edna has a husband and the fact that he is still trying to put moves on her despite this. Edna, however, does fall in love with Robert LeBrun and ultimtely gives in to what Robert wants, stating "I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier's possessions", basically giving Robert the greenlight to establish a relationship.
ReplyDeleteDr. Mandelet is the house physician and the ma that basically suspects that Edna is having an affair on Leonce. As a good friend of Leonce's, Dr. Mandelet does not inform him about the potential affair, as it may be damaging to the marriage and may lose distrust from many parties. " The Doctor would have liked during the course of the conversation to ask ' Is there any man in the case?' but he knew his Creole too well to ake a blunder as that" (Chopin 92). The fact that Dr. Mandelet suspects Edna is havng an affair with another man and the wy he is hiding it from Leonce, depicts his true nature as a cautious friend towards Leonce, however he is condescending to women as he quickly assumes Edna is having an affair, even though the case is actually true.
Did Arobin Try to control Edna? Did Arobin love Edna? Joshua basically you saying Arobin and Edna shares the same connection Robert and Edna had being that you using the keywords "true love". "There was a dull pang of regret because it was not the kiss of love.." (CHopin 107). After Arobin and EDna kisses, she admits being that the kiss did not have love the kiss inflamed her. Being that Arobin always asked Edna questions about what she prefer in the situation and listened illustrates that she held control and that he never tried to control her. "Regal woman, the one who rules, who looks on, who stands alone" (Chopin 112). Mademoiselle Reisz tells Edna that he has a "dreadful reputation... [of ruining] a woman's name" (Chopin 119) shows that Arobin hold an attraction for married women and clearly is not looking for love.
ReplyDeleteEdna’s husband, Leonce, can be seen as the blindest individual in her life. Leonce, obviously, notices a change in the personality of his wife, yet he takes no interest or contains knowledge of the cause. He feels that taking care of the children, submission, and conservatism should come natural to Edna and becomes bewildered when she does not conform. “I don’t know what ails her…she doesn’t act well. She’s odd, she’s not like herself.” (Chopin 86). The self Leonce wants Edna to be is not the self she wants to remain. Mr. Pontellier’s ignorance about his wife’s inner feelings and failure to connect with her explains why Edna feels distant and does not truly love him.
ReplyDelete- Ariel Rawls
Robert understands Edna only to a certain degree. He understands that Edna is married and has a well established family and feels that allowing their friendship to become something more is forbidden. For Edna these aspects of her life are minute in comparison to her own happiness. Although, Robert is unaware of this because he is conformed to the Creole society, love overtakes his conformity and he reveals his passion for her. “…now you know what I have been fighting against since last summer…what drove me away and drove me back again”(Chopin 142).• Robert represents a figure that Edna can reveal herself to, he allows her to feel a sense of freedom and carelessness, and due to the fact that he is the one Edna is truly in love with.
ReplyDeleteDr. Mandelet is the individual who considers the logical solutions and reasoning behind Edna’s “bizarre” behavior.
ReplyDeleteHe advises Leonce not to be a burden upon his wife or obstruct her womanly freedom because that will only drive his wife more distant than she has become. “Let your wife alone for a while…woman, my dear friend, is a very peculiar and delicate organism…but it will pass happily over, especially if you leave her alone” (Chopin 87-88).
Unfortunately, Dr. Mandelet does not know that Edna has no intentions of returning back to find happiness in her marriage nor does he know that Edna has begun her journey to find herself.
Arobin is a sort of womanizer and is well known for his actions, although he appears to hold a genuine desire for Edna, he only serves to uproot her sexual desires. However, Edna does not possess feelings toward him nor does not react the way she does to him as she does to Robert. “…there was neither shame nor remorse. There was a dull prang of regret…because it was not love which had held this cup of life to her lips” (Chopin 111).
-Ariel Rawls
How are these men alike in regards to Edna's awakening?
ReplyDeleteAll three men knows the laws of the creole society especially the one that states married women are considered their husband's property. Even though they might have bend the law, they never have crossed the boundaries.
ReplyDelete