During the Victorian Era, women
were homemakers; the only things men thought women could successfully do were have
children and take care of the home.“Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman” (Chopin
19). In the Awakening, there is a
lack of naming Mrs. Pontellier’s children. The children were referred to as “they”
and “them”. Taking care of her children was a chore. Mrs. Pontellier seemed to
view her children as a tedious job that she had to do. Mrs. Pontellier came to
the realization of her true thoughts of her children when the children had left
to meet their grandmother Pontellier in Iberville. “It seemed to free her of a
responsibility which she had blindly assumed and for which Fate had not fitted
her.”(Chopin 48) The “chore” of being a mother was something that Mrs.
Pontellier was not fond of; she loved her children, yet sometimes the phrase “out
of sight, out of mind” applied to her when dealing with her children.
The only time when a child’s name
was used was when a situation revolving around the child elicited negative
feelings from Mrs. Pontellier. After checking on Raoul due to Mr. Pontellier
claiming he had a fever, she checked on the boy, returned back to her bedroom,
and ignored her husband. She cried uncontrollably and inexplicably. These “bundles
of joy,” along with her marriage, are the reasons for Mrs. Pontellier’s
unhappiness. Being a mother, is prison for Mrs. Pontellier. Mrs. Pontellier doesn’t
want to continue to live the mundane life of a mother-woman. The thought of being
oppressed by motherhood “filled her whole being with a vague anguish.”(Chopin
14)
Edna told Madame Ratignolle "she would never sacrifice herself for her children" (Chopin 97). Edna's refusal to fully give up herself for her sons clearly shows that they come second. This goes against the social norms for mothers of that time period.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Edna is a strong woman, she still knew that she needed to be socially accepted and in the Victorian era that included having the perfect family. Since Edna did not truly want to follow that path she ended up giving birth to children that she did not want and therefore would not sacrifice herself for them, even though that's normally a natural parental instinct.
ReplyDeleteIn this time period, it is interesting that Mrs. Pontellier was so distant towards her children. Not only was she intent on being her own woman, she was intent on being a solitary figure in her domestic household that was thrust upon her. I enjoyed how you quoted "them" and "this" to refer to her children, Chopin utilizes these vague phrases to underscore the apathy Mrs. Pontellier has for her family. Conversely, Chopin uses the lovers as vivd images to contrast the stark difference in her family life.
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