ASSIGNMENT 12:
Kate Chopin, The Awakening (pt. 2)

Chapters 17 through 29 of The Awakening concern Edna's life in New Orleans, the home that Leonce has made for her and that she's expected to adorn like a beautiful object, and Edna's slow involvement with Alcee Arobin. The action culminates in her decision to set up a separate household for herself, just around the corner from the elegant Pontellier mansion.

Reading these chapters, we come to understand the deeper reasons for Edna Pontellier's dissatisfaction. In the resort community of Grand Isle, Edna and Leonce have been geographically and emotionally separated: he works at his brokerage business during the week, comes to Grand Isle only for the weekends, and even then spends considerable time at Klein's hotel playing billiards with other men. As such, Grand Isle has been a women's community in many ways, dominated by the figure of Madame Lebrun and Madame Ratignole, supremely comfortable maternal figures. There is also, however, the figure of Madame Reisz: single, and despite her solitary life clearly satisfied by her devotion to art. The young Lebrun males, Victor and Robert, have been represented as strong-willed and opposed types, but nonetheless under the mother's strong influence.

Back at the Esplanade Street mansion, Edna no longer moves within the holiday, resort atmosphere; she's back in the world of commerce, and of strong males like Leonce. In one sense, the novel has returned her to social reality.

One link between the two worlds is the music of Mademoiselle Reisz. When she responded to the implicit challenge of this woman's music in chapter 9, Edna became conscious of the ways her playing caused another, inner awakening: "the very passions themselves were aroused within her soul, swaying it, lashing it, as the waves daily beat upon her . . . body." In a symbolic sense, it is thus Mlle. Reisz's playing that will bring the mazy challenge of the sea back to New Orleans for Edna; she will visit this solitary woman and continue to be challenged by her playing.

In New Orleans, the consequences of Edna's first great awakening on the Cheniere Caminada will be made manifest. Having awakened to a truer, greater self, Edna will now begin stripping away her false identity. She begins "daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world." One consequence of that divestment is her affair with Arobin, including not only his physical seduction of her but other side-effects as well: for example, Edna begins gambling at the horse-track and apparently amasses quite a sum of money during that time. She must also begin to confront the implied, silent disapproval of those who know her, know of Arobin's "reputation," and wonder at Edna's seeming wantonness. In short, she begins to confront the community, to challenge its rules and expectations, and even to (fortunately) prevail economically so that she can eventually strike out on her own. In addition, she will begin to pursue her own muse, in painting. Something in her physical awakening has sparked an aesthetic rebirth, as well, and Edna Pontellier has become a new woman.

Reading Assignment

1. Kate Chopin, The Awakening (pp. 506-535).

Writing Assignment

1. At the Esplanade Street mansion, how are Edna's marital responsibilities different from when she was at the seaside resort of Madame Lebrun? What does Leonce expect of her? How does she react? Why?
2. From the descriptive details given in these middle chapters, compose a pocket-sketch of Alcee Arobin. What are his chief traits and what seem to be his motives; also, what do we know about his past?
3. Looking closely at the scenes that occur in Mlle. Reisz's apartment, discuss that woman's role in recalling Edna to the goal of achieving an aesthetic and spiritual awakening.
4. Why do you think Edna refuses her father's invitation to attend the wedding of her sister? Chopin never explicitly says why, but details from these chapters may help us to infer Edna's reasons.
5. Consider Edna's wagering at the horse-track under the influence of Arobin. What sense does it make in terms of Edna's past, and that of her family? Also, isn't it potentially similar to Leonce's financial speculations? After all, Leonce risks money on the stock market, Edna at the horse track. What are the similarities and differences, and why do they matter?
6. What are the functions of Doctor Mandelet in these events? That is, why is it significant that he stand as a figure of the objective science, observing Edna's case? Does the fact that he is accurate in his surmises about Edna and Arobin necessarily mean that Mandelet's view is "true"? And, if it isn't true, then in what sense(s) is it false? Discuss.
7. Finally, summarize in one or two paragraphs the main reasons you think Edna decides to make her own home in the "Pigeon House" next door to the mansion. For instance, if Edna's goal is to get free of Leonce, then why live right under his nose?

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