Edna Pontellier Léonce Pontellier Alcée Arobin Mademoiselle Reisz Edna is the main character and protagonist of the novel. He is Edna’s husband, and he is a businessman who majority of the time. Arobin is the man who Edna has an affair with. He becomes her love interest, and Edna view him as more exciting and passionate than her husband. She is a pianist who befriends Edna and conveys to Edna that living independently. Perhaps the most important piece of evidence she gives Edna is that in order to be independent, she must be brave. She is the character who undergoes an “awakening” whereby she becomes more independent and however more isolated which ultimately leads to her suicide. Alcée is very concerned with his family’s outward appearances and therefore is a major contributor to Edna’s awakening. Arobin is also a contributor to Edna’s awakening in that he allows Edna to see that Alcée cannot control her. Mademoiselle is perhaps the largest contributor to Edna’s awakening in that she lives independently and serves as a confidante to Edna. Independent, isolated, private, free-thinking, unorthodox Charming, classic, wealthy, busy, materialistic Seductive, independent, alluring Independent, pianist, artistic, unorthodox Major Works Data Sheet Setting Significance of the opening scene
The first half of the novel takes place in Grand Isle, an island off of the coast of Louisiana. The first half of the novel also takes place during the summer. After the summer vacation, the setting becomes the city, specifically Esplanade Street, on which Edna and her husband’s house is. The opening scene is significant for a number of reasons. The novel begins with a parrot shrieking at Leonce, which establishes the first symbol. The bird represents Edna and women, and because the bird is shrieking it is expressing Edna’s discontent with her husband and her standard of life in being an obedient wife. The opening scene is also significant in its setting. The first scene takes place on Grnad Isle, an island, and the ocean plays a major role in the novel. Furthermore, Edna returns to this very island at the end of the book and drowns herself. Symbols or Motifs (at least three) Significance of the ending / closing scene Birds: Birds represent Edna and all women and their struggle for their individuality. For example, the opening scene opens with a caged bird, expressing Edna’s caged feelings in which society confines her role as a woman. Ocean: This is a symbol that represents Edna’s desire of freedom and individuality. The first significant time the author notes on her self-discovery is when she learns to swim, and in the end, Edna wades into the ocean and drowns herself as she does not want to succumb to anybody’s standards but her own anymore. Painting: Painting represents Edna’s newly discovered individuality as it is an activity that she does purely for herself throughout the novel, and only partakes in it after her “awakening.” The closing scene portrays naked Edna wading into the water, reflecting on the fact that no one will be able to claim her anymore after her decision to drown herself. Edna then swims until she is exhausted and can swim no more, then drowns. This is significant because Edna has finally come to means with herself as an individual and the fact that she does not want to please anyone anymore or succumb to society’s role for women. In the water, she realizes that nobody is in control of her but herself, and she drowns. Possible Themes – Topics of Discussion (elaborate) minimum of 3