Breaking Free of the Chains and Fighting for Freedom
Breaking Free of the Chains and Fighting for Freedom
A Comparison Between Equus and The Awakening
Mantoula Blumenthal
Mrs. Brennan
November 28, 2012
College English
Thesis: Edna Pontillier and Dr. Martin Dysart were trapped by their roles in society. Their jobs and marriages suppressed them, and they struggled daily to rebel against these roles, altering their lives forever.
Breaking Free of the Chains and Fighting for Freedom
Too often, humans live life blindly. The walk through their lives following the motions, not truly living. These people try to see things clearly, yet the harder they try the more difficult it becomes. Every action taken by a person alters their life in a way. There are instances where the action can give clarity to a person. They can be given their vision whether it be temporarily or permanently; allowing them to live. Edna Pontillier, from the novella The Awakening, and Dr. Martin Dysart, from the play Equus, both wanted things in life that they did not have. Both characters struggled and were blinded by the lives they lead. Everyday they fought to achieve their goals and make what they wanted of their lives. Edna Pontillier and Dr. Martin Dysart were trapped by their roles in society. Their jobs and marriages suppressed them, and they struggled daily to rebel against these roles, altering their lives forever. Edna Pontillier is trapped by her gender role in society. She desires freedom from the life she is lives and these roles which she is being forced to play. To her society Edna was considered a bad mother woman. She did not worship her husband, nor did she idolize her children. In one specific instance, Mr. Pontillier believed that Raoul had a fever, and when Edna lacked concern he “reproached [her for] her inattention, her habitual neglect of the children.”(Chopin, 5) Edna Pontillier was not cut out for the life of a mother woman. She was young and wished to stay that way. She had a nanny take care of the
A Comparison Between Equus and The Awakening
Mantoula Blumenthal
Mrs. Brennan
November 28, 2012
College English
Thesis: Edna Pontillier and Dr. Martin Dysart were trapped by their roles in society. Their jobs and marriages suppressed them, and they struggled daily to rebel against these roles, altering their lives forever.
Breaking Free of the Chains and Fighting for Freedom
Too often, humans live life blindly. The walk through their lives following the motions, not truly living. These people try to see things clearly, yet the harder they try the more difficult it becomes. Every action taken by a person alters their life in a way. There are instances where the action can give clarity to a person. They can be given their vision whether it be temporarily or permanently; allowing them to live. Edna Pontillier, from the novella The Awakening, and Dr. Martin Dysart, from the play Equus, both wanted things in life that they did not have. Both characters struggled and were blinded by the lives they lead. Everyday they fought to achieve their goals and make what they wanted of their lives. Edna Pontillier and Dr. Martin Dysart were trapped by their roles in society. Their jobs and marriages suppressed them, and they struggled daily to rebel against these roles, altering their lives forever. Edna Pontillier is trapped by her gender role in society. She desires freedom from the life she is lives and these roles which she is being forced to play. To her society Edna was considered a bad mother woman. She did not worship her husband, nor did she idolize her children. In one specific instance, Mr. Pontillier believed that Raoul had a fever, and when Edna lacked concern he “reproached [her for] her inattention, her habitual neglect of the children.”(Chopin, 5) Edna Pontillier was not cut out for the life of a mother woman. She was young and wished to stay that way. She had a nanny take care of the