Similarities Between Edna Pontellier And Adele Ratignolle In The Awakening

American novelist Kate Chopin (1850-1904) eloquently wrote The Awakening, which was published in 1899. Some of her most notorious work, such as The Awakening, focuses on the lives of sensitive, intelligent, and independent-seeking women. In particular, The Awakening, takes readers through a journey of a woman named Edna Pontellier and her transformation from being a traditional wife and mother to expressing and exploring her feminism and independence. Considering the time in which the novel was published, Chopin received many awful reviews for acknowledging the true subject of passion and women’s urge for their own self-identity, expression, and sexual liberation that even ended her career. However, the revitalization of The Awakening in the
In the novel, Kate Chopin presents Edna Pontellier and Adele Ratignolle as character foils. Adele Ratignolle is an ordinary woman who follows the traditional role of a woman. She is a true example of a caretaker, nurturer, and mother. Chopin characterizes Mrs. Ratignolle as one of the mother-women at Grand Isle who “idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels” (Chopin 21). In contrast, “Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother woman” (Chopin 21). Instead of devoting her time to her children, she makes it her mission to explore her individuality. This character foil between Mrs. Pontellier and Mrs. Ratignolle is made apparent in chapter four when Mrs. Ratignolle begins to sew winter wear for her children. “Mrs. Pontellier’s mind was quite at rest concerning the present material needs of her children, and she could not see the use of anticipating and making winter night garments the subject of her summer meditations” (Chopin 22). Rather than being concerned with the present material needs of her children like Mrs. Ratignolle, Mrs. Pontellier is more focused on enjoying her summer