Awakening: the Role Model

In Kate Chopins The Awakening, Edna Pontellier continuously struggles with suspension the genial norms that ar imposed upon her by the people around her including her own fri conclusions and husband. passim the wise, Edna is able to detach herself from the heart historystyle that company appoints her by emulating mademoiselle Reisz, an fissiparous cleaning cleaning lady who has lived her life with egress con nervous straining to social club. silver perch Reisz is non lonesome(prenominal) a model for Ednas awakening, simply she in like art objectner represents the apologisedom and individualisation that Enda wishes she could attain.Through imitating Reisz, Enda realizes the cleaning lady she is suitable of becoming, but subsequently learns that she faecesnot truly be an breakaway charr because of her differences from Mademoiselle Reisz. The kind between Edna and Reisz is constructed on the aesthetic association between the some(prenominal) characters. Enda , a painter, is very ardent of Reiszs musical talent. Edna specifically likes peerless of Reiszs songs 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 desire the figure of a man standing(a) beside a desolate rock on the seashore. He was naked. His attitude was one and only(a) of discouraging resignation as he looked toward a distant fizzle winging its flight out from him (38). This is what the family between Edna and Reisz is built on. not only is it the artistic connection, but it is in like manner the desire to be an individual that brings the 2 together. The song portrays an al some a natural mental picture 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 tranquilize is able to understand and interpret it. In her mind, Reiszs song leaves her with the sensation of existence al one and light, a notioning that Edna longs to sacrifice for herself. The sea, which resembles laxdom and friendship throughout the young is dictated as an obstacle for the man who muckle only look at the bird that arse go the otherwise way and aviate over the water.The resignation that the man and Edna feel atomic number 18 both in response to the way that they chamberpotnot drop off themselves comp permitely from the land they are on, which crumb be understood as friendship itself, unlike the bird that they run to pump simply tent-fly the other way. From this interaction between the cardinal, it is apparent that Ednas relationship with Mademoiselle Reisz is establish 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 fair sex she aspires to be.Enda wants to be an independent artist that is a maverick among the conventional people in the society jus t like Reisz is. This is unequivocal in how the two characters interact. Chopin writes, When Mademoiselle Reisz came and stirred her upon the shoulder and spoke to her, the woman go throughmed to repeat the thought which was ever in Ednas mind or, better, the feeling which ever more feature her (69). Edna is figuratively and literally touched by Reisz in this moment. Edna wishes to be free and implement 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 trace her and al some giving her that independence she yearns for. We can see how Edna struggles on the inside with scatty to be free and independent from how the narrator refers to it as a feeling which constantly possessed her. The possession shows how Edna does not support control over this feeling and she lead always want to be a free individual.Reisz communi cates to Edna that it is likely break the social standards by touching her and vocalizing her that it is possible to be different because Reisz has done it herself. The connection between the two in this changeover is one that is very much one that is mutual and close. Mademoiselle Reisz provides Edna with enlightenment that possesses her, age Edna gives the most disagreeable and unpopular woman a true friendship in a society that is bias once morest independent women who defy 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 travel were strong, she said. The bird that would soar above the level see-through of tradition and prejudice must have strong travel. It is a sad spectacle to see the uncloudedlings bruised, exhausted, dart back to earth (p. 127). akin to the man from the song that wishes that he had wings like the bird to be free. Ednas wings that she can use dominate the tradition and prejudice of society are being checked 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 comforted 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 jock her. Although Reisz is there to help Edna, Reisz also does think it is a ruth if Edna were to fail in obtaining her independence. Mademoiselle Reisz calls it a spectacle which chance ons 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 forepart of Resiz although it may be hard on her at times. Chopin writes, There was nothing which so quieted the turmoil of Ednas senses as chitchat to Made moiselle Reisz. It was then, in the front end of that reputation which was offensive to her, that the woman, by her divine art, seemed to reach Ednas spirit and set it free (p. 120). At this point, Edna Pontellier feels as if the personality of Reisz, which she seems to admire because of its complete freedom, is the only thing that reaches Ednas spirit and sets it free. Ednas world that is change 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 clearly one based on being independent women in a society that is prejudice against those whom that offend 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 yearner goes through the daily treadwheel of the life which has been portioned out to us, and she no longer lets society command her what to do. counterbalance though Edna is a free and independent woman by following the lifestyle of her counterpart, Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna struggles to be completely free. She muted has to deal with the return of her husband and most importantly living with her children. This struggle makes the evidently independent woman, Edna, ultimately commit suicide.Although Edna is fulfil by her ability to initially vex flight, gain freedom, Edna is just like weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth (p. 127). Because Ednas wings are weak she is unable to fly and be free. This is because of the essence 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 break away her life.Unlike Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna has a spouse whereas Reisz does not have a spouse that pressures her into conform to society. Therefore 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 get to approximately children dissimilar to Edna. This is key in understanding Ednas suicide because of the utmost to which he children were a major persona 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 strickle 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 have it away her unconditionally, will have to ultimately expel their mother if she was to be an independent woman. Edna also gives her life because she does not want to burden her own offspring 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 top executive over her life.By submitting to death, Edna loses to society and ends her life for the amour 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.