Awakening: the Role Model

In Kate Chopins The Awakening, Edna Pontellier continuously struggles with pa handling the complaisant norms that are imposed upon her by the people around her including her witness friends and husband. Throughout the novel, Edna is able to detach herself from the careerstyle that bon ton appoints her by emulating white perch Reisz, an mugwump wo while who has lived her life without conforming to ordination. silver perch Reisz is not lonesome(prenominal) a model for Ednas awakening, only she also represents the bounteousdom and several(prenominal)isation that Enda wishes she could attain.Through imitating Reisz, Enda realizes the woman she is capable of becoming, but later learns that she cannot truly be an main(a) woman because of her contrarietys from Mademoiselle Reisz. The kind between Edna and Reisz is constructed on the artistic club between the two characters. Enda, a painter, is very fond of Reiszs musical talent. Edna specifically uniforms one of Reiszs so ngs that she calls solitude. Chopin writes, The name of the piece was something else, but she called it Solitude. When she heard it there came before her imagination the figure of a man standing beside a desolate rock on the seashore. He was naked. His stance was one of hopeless calmness as he looked toward a contradictory biddy winging its flight a room from him (38). This is what the relationship between Edna and Reisz is built on. not only is it the artistic connection, but it is also the desire to be an individual that brings the two together. The song portrays an almost a vivid painting in the mind of Enda, the form of art that she enjoys.This particularly touches her because even though it is a different form of art, Edna still is able to understand and interpret it. In her mind, Reiszs song leaves her with the sensation of being alone and free, a vox populi that Edna longs to rescue for herself. The sea, which resembles freedom and friendship by dint ofout the novel is placed as an obstacle for the man who can only look at the bird that can go the other way and fly over the water.The resignation that the man and Edna retrieve are both in response to the way that they cannot free themselves staring(a)ly from the land they are on, which can be unsounded as society itself, unlike the bird that they have to watch scarce fly the other way. From this interaction between the two, it is apparent that Ednas relationship with Mademoiselle Reisz is based on the two understanding each other through them both being artists. Alongside of their artistic connection, Edna Pontellier looks up to Mademoiselle Reisz as the woman she aspires to be.Enda deprivations to be an self-sufficing artist that is a freedom fighter among the conventional people in the society just like Reisz is. This is discernable in how the two characters interact. Chopin writes, When Mademoiselle Reisz came and touched her upon the shoulder and spoke to her, the woman seemed to ec ho the thought which was ever in Ednas mind or, better, the emotion which continuously possessed her (69). Edna is figuratively and literally touched by Reisz in this moment. Edna wishes to be free and lend up the all of the responsibilities she has a a woman.She does not want to be in the habit of doing all the social responsibilities that are placed upon women. Reisz echoes the freedom that Edna wishes she had by touching her and almost full-grown her that independence she yearns for. We can see how Edna struggles on the inside with wanting to be free and independent from how the narrator refers to it as a thought which constantly possessed her. The possession shows how Edna does not have control over this feeling and she will always want to be a free individual.Reisz communicates to Edna that it is attainable break the social standards by touching her and weighty her that it is possible to be different because Reisz has done it herself. The connection between the two in t his pass is one that is very much one that is mutual and close. Mademoiselle Reisz provides Edna with depth that possesses her, while Edna gives the most disagreeable and unpopular woman a genuine friendship in a society that is bias against independent women who control the social convention. Reisz once again touches Edna similarly to how she had earlier on in the novel.Chopin writes, She put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my move were strong, she said. The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and disfavor must have strong fly. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, to-do back to hide (p. 127). Similar to the man from the song that wishes that he had wings like the bird to be free. Ednas wings that she can use overcome the tradition and prejudice of society are being go over by Mademoiselle Reisz to see if she is strong enough to fly on her own. In addition, Edna s reached out to by Reisz and is comfort ed by her knowledge on how to be an individual. Edna wants to be free and is happy to relieved by the fact that Reisz is there to help her. Although Reisz is there to help Edna, Reisz also does cogitate it is a shame if Edna were to blend in in obtaining her independence. Mademoiselle Reisz calls it a spectacle which makes those who fail look ridiculous or like a fool. She is also telling Edna if she doesnt succeed that she will make herself a spectacle that the entire tradition on the ground, society, is going to see her fall as she makes herself look like a fool.We can also see that Edna does enjoy the nominal head of Resiz although it whitethorn be hard on her at times. Chopin writes, There was nothing which so quieted the turmoil of Ednas senses as visit to Mademoiselle Reisz. It was then, in the presence of that personality which was offensive to her, that the woman, by her divine art, seemed to reach Ednas note and set it free (p. 120). At this point, Edna Pontellier feels as if the personality of Reisz, which she seems to envy because of its complete freedom, is the only thing that reaches Ednas spirit and sets it free. Ednas world that is make full with struggle to be independent can only be calmed by the presence of her role model and deity, Mademoiselle Reisz. Since the relationship between Edna and Reisz is intelligibly one based on being independent women in a society that is prejudice against those whom that contravene the societal laws, the Ednas life and self-destruction can be understood with more lucidity. Ednas life through the novel is incontrovertibly a mimic of the life of Mademoiselle Reisz. Since Reisz is the independent and free woman Edna strives to be, Edna simply follows all the things that Reisz does.Edna returns back to paintingwhat does she want from painting, she no longer goes through the everyday treadmill of the life which has been portioned out to us, and she no longer lets society miss her what to do. Even though Edn a is a free and independent woman by following the lifestyle of her counterpart, Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna struggles to be completely free. She still has to chew with the return of her husband and most importantly living with her children. This struggle makes the obviously independent woman, Edna, ultimately commit suicide.Although Edna is fulfilled by her ability to ab initio take flight, gain freedom, Edna is just like weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth (p. 127). Because Ednas wings are weak she is uneffective to fly and be free. This is because of the burden on her placed by her family. With Roberts return, Edna again begins to feel the societal pressures that were absent while Robert was in Mexico. Edna is pressured into falling backing into the daily treadmill of life because of her husband. This is one reason that she deicides to discontinue her life.Unlike Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna has a spouse whereas Reisz does not have a spouse that pressures her into conforming to society. accordingly Ednas independence is challenged in her own home unlike Reisz whom is free to do as she wishes. Alongside of not having a spouse, Reisz does not have to worry about children dissimilar to Edna. This is key in understanding Ednas suicide because of the extent to which he children were a major component in her deciding to give up her life. Reisz does not have to worry about children so she is much more capable of being a free woman. On the other hand, Edna has to take care of her children.This makes a major difference for Edna because her children will most likely be affected by societys thoughts and opinions on their mother. Her children, the only people who should be able to enjoy her unconditionally, will have to ultimately ostracize their mother if she was to be an independent woman. Edna also gives her life because she does not want to burden her own youth with societys judgement and beliefs of their own mother. In conclusion, Edna is weak considering that she is unable to remain an independent women and that she decides to end her life instead of taking powerfulness over her life.By submitting to death, Edna loses to society and ends her life for the interest of her children. Because she conforms in the end to what society wants her to do, take care of her children, Ednas death can be considered as a defeat. Mademoiselle Ratignolle, the prime example of someone that conforms to society expectations and beliefs, says that women should give their lives for their children. Edna does exactly that and therefore is not only weak, but dies as a woman with no independence or freedom.