The awakening summary and analysis. Chapter 2 2019-01-05

Chapter 2

The patients depicted in this film have suffered a fate more horrible than the one in Poe's famous story about premature burial. It is clear, at times, that Léonce is not satisfied with Edna's level of effort with their boys and feels that she is not like the other mothers around them. The summer ends, and Edna returns to her home of New Orleans. Her heart remains with Robert, however, and she is delighted to learn that he is soon returning to New Orleans. Without her husband and with this new kind of attention, Edna feels different - more alive, self-reliant and independent. Their reunion is interrupted with a call from Madame Ratignolle who is having a baby.

The Awakening Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis from LitCharts

Worried about the changing attitude and increasing disobedience of his wife, Léonce seeks the guidance of the family physician, Doctor Mandelet. One of her most shocking actions was her denial of her role as a mother and wife. At the same time, Edna clearly has a bond with her platonic friend Robert that excludes her husband — this bond is represented by the adventure that she and Robert share during their swim, the joy of which they cannot communicate to Léonce. Sometimes that blockage is manifested through bizarre physical behavior, sometimes through apparent paralysis. Her cultural background will cause her to react to certain situations a little differently than her neighbors would in the same situation. Over a century later, the novel now takes its place as one of the most impressive works of feminist fiction in the United States. In the second novella of the first volume The Struggle , what follows is a fight for Elena's affections and indeed her soul as Stefan's older brother is unmasked as the real culprit behind the horrible attacks and tries to win Elena for himself by charm or by force.

The Awakening Summary

They both have breakfast and take a boat to mass shortly after. She begins to focus on artwork and other pursuits that she enjoys. Edna is also awakened to the difference between her and the other mothers on Grand Isle. He has no experience in working with patients; indeed, his last project involved earthworms. Consequently, Edna spends most of her time with her friend Adèle Ratignolle, a married Creole who epitomizes womanly elegance and charm.

The Awakening Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis from LitCharts

That being said, Edna still maintains the pretense and follows the accepted norms and social conventions of how a woman and mother should behave. Pontellier and a handsome young man named Robert Lebrun are underneath the sunshade. We do not know what we see when we look at Leonard. They talk about what they did when they were apart and admit that they both often thought about that summer at Grand Isle. Pontellier, who simply wants to go to sleep. When she comes out of the water, there's an unspoken realization that Robert and her flirtation has become something a little more than a harmless crush. Pontellier moves back to the city, she will struggle to reconcile the unique vision of freedom offered to her at the beach with the demands made of her by society.

The Awakening Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis from LitCharts

After this potential has been brought to her attention, Edna cannot imagine herself living the asexual, artistic lifestyle of Mademoiselle Reisz, even if it might be a way to find the individuality that she is searching for. The process accelerates as Edna comes to know Robert Lebrun, the elder, single son of Madame Lebrun. Pontellier's male world of activity, work, and social responsibility and Mrs. They spend a few days together doing nothing more than hanging out—the closest they get to smooching is Robert touching her dress. There are also many themes in the novel. On one of her visits to Mademoislle Reisz, Edna learns that Robert does not write to her because he loves her. He is annoyed by a caged parrot loudly repeating its stock phrases, and so leaves the main building of the pension boardinghouse for his own cottage.

The Awakening Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis from LitCharts

This summer, he devotes himself to Edna, and the two spend their days together lounging and talking by the shore. What goes on inside his mind? Everything seems hunky-dory: it's a beautiful vacation spot, the kiddos are cute, the husband is attentive, and Edna is getting hit on in a pretty harmless manner by a dude named Robert Lebrun. Instead, they focused on the story of Edna's rebellion. Pontellier treat each other as real, exciting people, rather than as mere possessions. He admits his love but reminds her that they cannot possibly be together, since she is the wife of another man.

The Awakening Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis from LitCharts

Robert mentions future plans to go to Mexico, and Mrs. Léonce is a self-important man who accepts as his due the deference of others to his perceived superiority. This summer, Edna is the object of his attentions. When she returns to the pigeon house, Robert is gone, having left a goodbye note. Pontellier goes outside and begins to sob. Edna spends a day at the beach, learning how to really swim. She pities Adele and finds herself unsuited for the lifestyle of the mother-woman.

Chapter 1

Hubby Pontellier goes so far as to ask a doctor about his wife's weird behavior. He's left a note saying that although he loves her—in fact, because he loves her—he's got to split. Her husband notices this before he goes back to the city to get some work done—he's a little rude and caddish and questions whether Edna's a good mom. He is known to have had many affairs and often with married women. It is clear that Edna and Léonce have a traditional marriage, one in which it is expected that Edna care for her children and husband, rather than follow her own pursuits. At 26, he is only two years younger than Edna, while Léonce is 12 years older. Pontellier grew up in the Protestant South.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and the Struggle Summary & Study Guide

Sayer, played by Williams, is at the center of almost every scene, and his personality becomes one of the touchstones of the movie. Pontellier from treating her as a real, equal human being and that leads to Mrs. It is in the seaside town of Grand Isle that the story begins. The parrot is shouting in French. She decides to go for a swim, even though the early-spring water is far too cold.