Kate Chopin’s stylistic choice for The Awakening’s point of view aids the readers in comprehending the novel. Her decision to write in third person omniscient allows the readers to detect an underlying conflict between Léonce Pontellier and Edna Pontellier. Their marriage seems ideal to a majority of the characters. For example, Mr. Pontellier is deemed “the best husband in the world” by the other ladies (Chopin 50). However, the relationship is extremely disproportioned: Mr. Pontellier harbors more feelings of love towards Edna than Edna does for Mr. Pontellier. He worships her like “a valuable piece of personal property” while she notices her “symptoms of infatuation” for Robert (Chopin 44, 94). Since the readers are able to view the characters’ internal thoughts, they recognize Edna’s dissatisfaction with Mr. Pontellier and Mr. Pontellier’s one pet peeve towards Edna. Edna feels “an indescribable oppression” as she listens to every command of Mr. Pontellier (Chopin 49). Mr. Pontellier regrets Edna’s lack of “duty toward their children” (Chopin 50).
Neither of the characters vocalize their issues to one another aloud, which also establishes dramatic irony within the story. The readers perceive Edna’s lack of love for Mr. Pontellier despite his obliviousness to her romantic paucity. She admits to her marriage being “purely an accident” (Chopin 62). She fancies “his absolute devotion” she receives from him; she does not fancy him in general (Chopin 62). Unaware of Edna’s true feelings, Mr. Pontellier unintentionally induces Edna to gain feelings for Robert by allowing her to spend time with him alone.
These hidden thoughts of the Pontelliers potentially foreshadow future marriage conflicts in The Awakening.
Chopin's choice for the point of view also foreshadows the potential relationship between Edna and Robert. In the conversation between Mariequita and Robert, she asks him if Edna is his sweetheart. Instead of just saying no, he responds by saying, "She's a married lady, and has two children" (Chopin 81). Robert's lack of a true answer hints that he does have feelings for Edna, and her marriage status is the only reason he doesn't make his intentions clear.
ReplyDeleteChopin's stylistic choice of third- person omniscient point of view also adds a slight dramatic irony towards the story. The audience gets to see the thoughts of characters and the audience is able to witness certain events that other characters are unaware of. Due to this knowledge, the audience can use inference skills to foreshadow what they think will happen to certain. For example: What will happen once Leonce finds out about his adulterous wife?
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