All throughout the book it’s
clear that gender expectations plays a huge role in the theme. During the Victorian
era typically women were housewives, if possible to even classify them as that.
Women were solely important for reproduction and status. Women were objectified
during this era. As remarks throughout the story would support, "You have been a very, very foolish boy, wasting
your time dreaming of impossible things when you speak of Mr. Pontellier
setting me free! I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier's possessions to dispose
of or not. I give myself where I choose.” (150) Edna says this to explain to Robert that she
not just something Léonce can give away because he wants to, she is a someone
and she decides how her life goes.
Also reflecting back to when Edna began to
swim she said “A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of
significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and
her soul. She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted
to swim far out, where no woman had swum before.” (70) She felt just in this
moment for the first time that she had power over her body and soul and she
only felt this way because she was the only one who could swim for herself, she
was the only person keeping her afloat no one else could do it for her. Edna
first experience with independence in a weird sense, opened her eyes to the
fact that she should always be in control of herself, and allow no one (man)
dictate her actions.
It is rather sad that the only time Edna has "a feeling of exultation" (Chopin 70) is when she is by herself in the ocean. This moment really shows how confined Victorian women are by gender expectations. They, without any independence or freedom, are forced to adhere to the standards set by their male counterparts.
ReplyDeleteEdna's character is extremely different from other women of her time period. I think, because of this, the overall book was extremely scanadlous. Edna was becoming an independent, free, empowered woman (defying her husband, not being the homemaker) because of her affairs, like you said.
ReplyDeleteIt sad that during the Victorian Era, Edna would have been classified as a slut. There was no freedom (including sexual freedom), and it was suffocating Edna. Edna's swim was a soul cleanse, and it helped her begin to unlock the chains of being a "mother-woman."
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