Societal Norms In Edna Pontellier's The Awakening

Since many societal standards were created to limit people’s potentials, conforming everyone to societal norms can have a detrimental impact on people’s ability to stay part of the society. When people are not able to pursue their passion they can turn to extreme measures. In Edna’s scenario her resolution is tragic. She is married to a man whom she has never ardently loved. Bound to the domesticity and submissiveness that a wife should present, Edna’s yearnings for an independent life never come to fruition. In the end, imbued with grief and despair, she decided to take her life. However, it is evident from her last introspction that her family is indeed an integral part of her life since “She thought of Léonce and the children. They were