Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Search of Happiness
Robert was a support for Edna, he wouldn’t judge her, he would accept everything she does, without questioning her or anything. When they were together, Edna managed to be a very different person, she originally followed everything she was supposed to follow, she did the chores and took care of the kids, even if that ment being emotionally unestable. However, spending time with Robert, she realized that she wants to do something with her life. Its amazing how Robert changed her perspective of life, and unlike all the other men, he didn’t judge her.
Edna was free, if that’s how she could be described, when she was with Robert. However since he left she has been feeling lost. Without any ideas on how to act, Enda tries to go back to the person she was during her summer vacations. Then she was somewhat controlled, but now there are no bounderies. Edna does what she wants to do, when she wants to. Mr. Pontellier has been trying to stop her but he has failed. He has been trying to get his wife back, however Edna only wants to be left alone. She soon becomes desperate about doing other things. She continues with her impulses and wants to visit every one that was connected to Robert. During her visits, she discovers that Robert has written to Mademoiselle Reisz, and to Madame Lebrun, she is shocked that she has recieved no letter from Robert. Edna is in a hurry to live and feel. When she was with Robert, she was living like she wanted to live, however, when he left, she lost a support. Now she is trying to live happy, but she doesn’t know how to do it.
Edna was free, if that’s how she could be described, when she was with Robert. However since he left she has been feeling lost. Without any ideas on how to act, Enda tries to go back to the person she was during her summer vacations. Then she was somewhat controlled, but now there are no bounderies. Edna does what she wants to do, when she wants to. Mr. Pontellier has been trying to stop her but he has failed. He has been trying to get his wife back, however Edna only wants to be left alone. She soon becomes desperate about doing other things. She continues with her impulses and wants to visit every one that was connected to Robert. During her visits, she discovers that Robert has written to Mademoiselle Reisz, and to Madame Lebrun, she is shocked that she has recieved no letter from Robert. Edna is in a hurry to live and feel. When she was with Robert, she was living like she wanted to live, however, when he left, she lost a support. Now she is trying to live happy, but she doesn’t know how to do it.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Impulse
Robert, Edna's companion doesn't judge her. She follows her and does whatever she tells him to do, but with all the strange things she does, he accepts her. This might be the reason why Edna likes to be around him so much. Truth is Edna is very impulsive. Once she has started experiencing the world in a new way, a way without so many rules, she becomes unpredictable. During the beginning of the book, Edna is shown somewhat vulnerable, she cries after her husband has woken her up, perhaps its the frustration, or the lack of sleep, whatever it is, Edna is a new person now. She has drastically changed. It is clear to her that she has changed and she is conscious while making or taking her new decisions. After Edna went for her first swim, she goes home before everyone else. Robert stays with her as she lays on the hammock waiting for her husband to arrive. As soon as voices are heard, Robert leaves and Edna stays in the hammock. Once Mr. Pontellier has seen Edna, he tells her to come in. Normally she would obey his orders but now she resists and follows her personal will. She wants to stay outside so she will do it. After being called several times and making it clear that she is not giving in, her husband decides to join her. They stay there some time, Edna rejects everything she is offered. Soon, Edna feels like coming inside, she stands up and walks towards the house, she stops and asks Mr. Pontellier if he is coming in, and for a small instant the roles are changed, now its Mr. Pontellier following Edna's orders.
Although she was a very calm and repressed female, Edna has clearly changed and is now rather impulsive. In the morning, she wakes up and calls for Robert, she wants to go to mass, and without objection Robert comes with her. While in the service, Edna feels the need of walking out, so instead of controlling herself, like she would normally do, she stands up and walks away. Robert follows her and without questioning her decisions he cares for her. It is Robert who feeds Mrs. Pontelliers impulsiveness. Every time she is going back to the person she used to be, Robert makes a comment that brings her back. At an exact moment, Edna is worried about the time, she tells Robert, "The sun will be gone in two hours", she is clearly worried about the time and about her husband, however, Robert doesn't care about anything, and he just answers back, "well, let it go; who cares!". (pg. 79). Edna has started to learn how to enjoy life, she now focuses on every present moment, this quote sums it all up, "But the beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing. How few of us ever emerge from such beginning! How many souls perish in its tumult!".
Although she was a very calm and repressed female, Edna has clearly changed and is now rather impulsive. In the morning, she wakes up and calls for Robert, she wants to go to mass, and without objection Robert comes with her. While in the service, Edna feels the need of walking out, so instead of controlling herself, like she would normally do, she stands up and walks away. Robert follows her and without questioning her decisions he cares for her. It is Robert who feeds Mrs. Pontelliers impulsiveness. Every time she is going back to the person she used to be, Robert makes a comment that brings her back. At an exact moment, Edna is worried about the time, she tells Robert, "The sun will be gone in two hours", she is clearly worried about the time and about her husband, however, Robert doesn't care about anything, and he just answers back, "well, let it go; who cares!". (pg. 79). Edna has started to learn how to enjoy life, she now focuses on every present moment, this quote sums it all up, "But the beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing. How few of us ever emerge from such beginning! How many souls perish in its tumult!".
Fear of Being Alone
Most people find it strange to be alone, they feel the need of being with someone else at all times, however, Kate Chopin shows us a different perspective though Edna's character. Through the beginning of the book, I didn't realize how the word alone, or its synonyms were being used so much, however after the phrase, "inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in the mazes of inward contemplation" these words started to appear often.
The meaning of these phrase demonstrates how she stops being afraid of solitude, instead she takes it as an opportunity for personal time, while she is alone, she gets to know herself even more. Since that point on, Edna tries to search for moments where she is alone, where she can connect to her inner self. For example, the first time Edna realizes she can swim. Surprised and after being congratulated by every one she looks towards the sea. She has no limits, she is in the water and observes the horizon. She swims and tries to reach "the unlimited in which to lose herself". (pg.60). Soon after she has enjoyed the view, she turns back and looks at the people she left behind, she looks at the distance between her and the shore, and understands that for a professional swimmer it wouldn't be much, but for her, she has overcome an obstacle. While on the sea, Edna has a vision of death, she tells her husband about it, "I thought i should have perished out there alone", once again talking about loneliness.
Some times, Edna enjoys solitude more than others, with each moment, she acquires new feelings, new sensations. She has become a different person. While visiting Madame Antoine, Edna is taken to a room so she can rest. While being by herself, she can do whatever she wants, she has to follow no social constraints. As every one left the room, she washes herself and takes some of her clothes of, she soon realizes it feels nice to rest in a strange bed. Edna embraces every alone moment she has, instead of being scared and overwhelmed, she takes every second and makes it hers. No one can steal anything she has gained during her personal time. This time becomes important to her well being, since it helps her know more about herself, it teaches her limits.
The meaning of these phrase demonstrates how she stops being afraid of solitude, instead she takes it as an opportunity for personal time, while she is alone, she gets to know herself even more. Since that point on, Edna tries to search for moments where she is alone, where she can connect to her inner self. For example, the first time Edna realizes she can swim. Surprised and after being congratulated by every one she looks towards the sea. She has no limits, she is in the water and observes the horizon. She swims and tries to reach "the unlimited in which to lose herself". (pg.60). Soon after she has enjoyed the view, she turns back and looks at the people she left behind, she looks at the distance between her and the shore, and understands that for a professional swimmer it wouldn't be much, but for her, she has overcome an obstacle. While on the sea, Edna has a vision of death, she tells her husband about it, "I thought i should have perished out there alone", once again talking about loneliness.
Some times, Edna enjoys solitude more than others, with each moment, she acquires new feelings, new sensations. She has become a different person. While visiting Madame Antoine, Edna is taken to a room so she can rest. While being by herself, she can do whatever she wants, she has to follow no social constraints. As every one left the room, she washes herself and takes some of her clothes of, she soon realizes it feels nice to rest in a strange bed. Edna embraces every alone moment she has, instead of being scared and overwhelmed, she takes every second and makes it hers. No one can steal anything she has gained during her personal time. This time becomes important to her well being, since it helps her know more about herself, it teaches her limits.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
A life Style
Mr. Pontellier seems like the perfect husband to every one else. He sends his family chocolates and gifts, and gives his wife money, he takes care of everyone and feeds them also. Just like the perfect husband, there is also a perfect wife.
In the book, Adele Ratignolle is described as one. She is a lady full of charms, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and really red lips. Every movements and gestures are made with grace. Every movement she makes is careful and calculated. She is always watching out for what might be needed.
As her opposite, there is Mrs. Pontellier, and altough she is a good wife, there are certain things she does that make her really different from Adele. Edna understands Adele’s charms and just like she admires them she wouldn’t want to acquire them. The new Edna, focuses more on the present, she is not worrying about the things her sons will need for the winter if it is summer. Adele takes things slowly and does things as time advances. It’s all about becoming a happy individual, instead of being absorbed by the level of pressure and rush of the society, she sets a pace that will suit her and the things she has to do.
In the book, Adele Ratignolle is described as one. She is a lady full of charms, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and really red lips. Every movements and gestures are made with grace. Every movement she makes is careful and calculated. She is always watching out for what might be needed.
As her opposite, there is Mrs. Pontellier, and altough she is a good wife, there are certain things she does that make her really different from Adele. Edna understands Adele’s charms and just like she admires them she wouldn’t want to acquire them. The new Edna, focuses more on the present, she is not worrying about the things her sons will need for the winter if it is summer. Adele takes things slowly and does things as time advances. It’s all about becoming a happy individual, instead of being absorbed by the level of pressure and rush of the society, she sets a pace that will suit her and the things she has to do.
Dealing with them
It’s a woman’s task, what to do when we are told it’s your task to do certain things? I don’t understand how Enda can manage Mr. Pontelliers attitude. He thinks, she doesn’t do anything all day, he thinks she just sits there. Well, women do lots of things men don’t know they do, or they might know, but they think it is easier to do them. Being a lady is easy. Give amen, a piece of chiken, he will masacre it till a woman comes and saves him, unless baking chicken is their specialty. Woman are able to multitask, and in order to do that, they need rest.
Mr. Pontellier comes in to his room without any care, he walks loud, and talks even louder. Poor Edna is trying to sleep, getting energies to deal with the next day, however lovely Mr. Pontelier doenst care and tells her about everything he cares about. Edna being half asleep can only make certain noises, Mr. Pontellier then wonders why Enda doesn’t share interest in the same topics. Oh well, thats tough. If you are talking to a person that has just woken up, chances are you wont get much of an answer. However as Mr. Pontellier hasn't had enough, he walks to the room and checks on his sons. After revising them, he assures Edna one of them has a fever. As a mother would know, she contradicts Pontelier, he soon coments on how taking care of the children is Ednas job, he brings money and food to the house, so like he does this wonderful things, he takes as a fact, that Edna will take care of her children.
As an obedient wife, she wakes up, walks to the children and sees for herself that... they don’t have a fever. Unabe to sleep, she just cries. Silently, at first she tries to hide the tears, cleaning them with the sleeve, after some time, she realizes that the tears can’t be hidden any more and that trying to dry them is irrational, " the tears came so fast to Mrs. Pontellier’s eyes that the damp sleeve of her peignoir no longer served to dry them" (pg. 22).
Mr. Pontellier comes in to his room without any care, he walks loud, and talks even louder. Poor Edna is trying to sleep, getting energies to deal with the next day, however lovely Mr. Pontelier doenst care and tells her about everything he cares about. Edna being half asleep can only make certain noises, Mr. Pontellier then wonders why Enda doesn’t share interest in the same topics. Oh well, thats tough. If you are talking to a person that has just woken up, chances are you wont get much of an answer. However as Mr. Pontellier hasn't had enough, he walks to the room and checks on his sons. After revising them, he assures Edna one of them has a fever. As a mother would know, she contradicts Pontelier, he soon coments on how taking care of the children is Ednas job, he brings money and food to the house, so like he does this wonderful things, he takes as a fact, that Edna will take care of her children.
As an obedient wife, she wakes up, walks to the children and sees for herself that... they don’t have a fever. Unabe to sleep, she just cries. Silently, at first she tries to hide the tears, cleaning them with the sleeve, after some time, she realizes that the tears can’t be hidden any more and that trying to dry them is irrational, " the tears came so fast to Mrs. Pontellier’s eyes that the damp sleeve of her peignoir no longer served to dry them" (pg. 22).
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Power?
The aparent power males have over females is somewhat questionable in "The Awakening". Altough Mr. Pontellier does have a say in Mrs. Pontelliers decisions, his opinion starts to diminish as Edna awakens. At first, Edna would do whatever Mr. Pontellier would tell her to do, and Pontellier himself could do whatever he wanted to do without Ednas aproval or dissaprova. Edna would keep her opinion to herself.
An example, Mr. Pontellier wants to go over to a club where he can bet, and spend time with his friends. So a little time before an early dinner, he just excuses himself and leaves. Edna knows him well and she understands that he might take a long time coming back, "perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not" (pg. 16). Pontellier left before dinner, leaving Enda alone with the children. As she seems to acept everything her husband does, she keps quiet. However this changes radically when Edna starts doing whatever she wants to do. When Edna abandoned the tuesdays with Mr. Pontellier, he freaked out, "she has abandoned her Tuesdays at home"(pg. 126). He wouldn’t understand why she was doing such thing. Very different reaction to that of Mrs. Pontellier when her husband did the same thing.
Women tend to react less when their husbands do whatever they want. Edna for example, just remains quiet, and she accomodates herself to Mr. Pontelliers desires. However, when the women start to do how they please, they are repressed by their husbands, in this case, Pontellier is trying to get his wife back.
An example, Mr. Pontellier wants to go over to a club where he can bet, and spend time with his friends. So a little time before an early dinner, he just excuses himself and leaves. Edna knows him well and she understands that he might take a long time coming back, "perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not" (pg. 16). Pontellier left before dinner, leaving Enda alone with the children. As she seems to acept everything her husband does, she keps quiet. However this changes radically when Edna starts doing whatever she wants to do. When Edna abandoned the tuesdays with Mr. Pontellier, he freaked out, "she has abandoned her Tuesdays at home"(pg. 126). He wouldn’t understand why she was doing such thing. Very different reaction to that of Mrs. Pontellier when her husband did the same thing.
Women tend to react less when their husbands do whatever they want. Edna for example, just remains quiet, and she accomodates herself to Mr. Pontelliers desires. However, when the women start to do how they please, they are repressed by their husbands, in this case, Pontellier is trying to get his wife back.
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