Blog #8

Throughout the story, I first felt a little pity for Edna Pontellier.  As we read early in the book, Leonce says to his wife on page 2, “’You are burnt beyond recognition,’ he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage.” This excerpt explains how Leonce doesn’t necessarily view his wife as his wife that he shares love with and cherishes, but he views Edna as “personal property.”  

In chapter 4, the narrator mentions, “In short, Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her.”  This point in the story is where Edna starts to realize who she really wants to become and how she wants to be free.  Even though Edna wants to be free, I feel like she is definitely overstepping and doing harm to others around her and is not necessarily justified in her choices.  Edna begins to show a great interest in Robert, even though she is married to Leonce.  We get it, Leonce doesn’t necessarily show any positive signs early on that he truly does love Edna, but rather is just doing what the Creole society asks of. 

As Robert and Edna start to see each other, is Edna just another one of Robert’s summer flings?  He then moves away to Mexico.  Edna gets in a huge argument with Leonce, stomping on her wedding ring.  But as it says in the first line of chapter 19, “Edna could not help but think that it was very foolish, very childish, to have stamped upon her wedding ring…” After this happens, do you think it’s possible that Edna would start to actually show affection for Leonce?  Somehow she does.  However Leonce had to leave for a business trip shortly after the argument and when Edna comes to a reality check that she might actually have feelings for Leonce. 

As she gets lonely with nobody around, she starts to see Alcee Arobin.  This is where I feel like she starts to step over the line, she is going from guy to guy!  Anyways, she starts to show not necessarily an emotional connection, but more of a physical affection for Alcee.  They even kiss, and the book implies that they might have even taken it a step further as it says on page 93:

“Good night,” she murmured.

He did not answer, except to continue to caress her.  He did not say good night until she had become supple to his gentle, seductive entreaties.

When I got to this spot in the book, I most definitely felt like Edna has crossed the line.  Although she is married to Leonce, she has seen two other men.

If I was Edna, I most definitely wouldn’t act as her.  I possibly would try to work things out and at least talk to Leonce about their marriage.  Instead, she is being way to free of her actions and needs to put them on a leash!