Chapter one opens with a green and yellow parrot in a cage, which I predict will become symbolic. Birds in cages often symbolize a lack of freedom or imprisonment; birds are meant to fly. The third person narrator tells the audience that Mr. Pontellier had “the privilege of quitting their society”(2). The word choice of privilege and quitting evokes class distinctions and power. He doesn’t have just the choice or option to leave, but the privilege to quit. He is described as “looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage”(3). He sees her as a possession that he owns and values her physical appearance. Mr. Pontellier seems to prefer the company of men over his wife. He asks to talk with Robert and then leaves to go gamble. He has the freedom to do as he pleases. When Edna asks him if he will return for dinner, he “ halted a moment and shrugged his shoulders. He felt in his vest pocket; there was a ten-dollar bill there. He did not know; perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. It all depended upon the company which he found over at Klein’s and the size of ‘the game’”(4). It is interesting that Edna just laughs and doesn’t seem to care if he comes back for dinner or not.
The Pontelliers don't appear to be in love and seem perfectly content to be together. There is definitely some commentary/insight into the expectation and freedoms of men and women. Is the bird in the cage perhaps symbolic of Edna?
Throughout chapters 1-10 multiple references are made to the sea. I believe this is symbolic for desire or love. “The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in inward in mazes of contemplation.” The interactions between Robert and Edna seem like there may be something more developing than just friendship. Robert is known to have flings with housewives, and additionally Mr. Pontellier is gone more often than not for his job. Adele even recognizes this and asks Robert to leave her alone because as Edna revealed at the beach with Adele that it left her contemplative. Adele is introduced in the book as a “perfect housewife” in a sense and is helpful to the reader because we are then able to compare Edna’s personality and actions to Adele’s which would have been more typical to Creole society. Edna is more of a “free spirit,” who was even deemed “not a mother-woman.” Her lack of immediate devotion to her husband and her kids is further apparent with the time she spends with Robert who seems to take her away from those responsibilities.
I agree with the idea that the sea is a symbol of love and that it may even symbolize Robert and Edna's love. There is obviously something more than a friendship going on. Robert shows romantic feeling towards Edna, however, I am not sure that she notices them quite yet. She has a husband so I don't think that the idea of Robert expressing romantic feelings is even in her mind. Divorce wasn't thought of in those days so that wasn't a choice even if she did have feelings for Robert. As the story goes on through these chapters, she starts to drift away from caring for her husband and kids. She decides to put herself before anyone else. Is this a bad thing for Edna though? Is it good that she is trying to focus on herself before she focuses on anyone else? Does this mean she doesn't care about her kids?
The sea representing love or desire is a really good idea. The fact that the very fist time Edna and Robert are introduced to the story, they are walking back from the sea together. This could foreshadow something happening later in the book between the two that involves desire or love. It seem pretty clear that there is something between the two already. During their conversation at the beginning of the book, they talk about their walk along the sea and how entertaining it was. The fact that it keep coming up definitely means that the sea has some type of importance to the story, and your reasoning would clearly make sense.
The personification of the sea is very strong with its seduction, invoking desire. However, I wonder if it is love/desire of something other than Robert?
I believe Robert has changed Edna’s personality which is apparent when Edna is on the beach with Adele and telling her about how the scene before them reminded her of Kentucky. When she refers to her childhood in Kentucky, she said she acted on impulse, just as she might be doing when with Robert. As she grew up Edna said “religion took firm hold” and she began to go as habit. Edna may be realizing that her life in New Orleans with her husband and kids was all done because that was what was expected, rather than by impulse and desire. Toward the beginning of the book, Edna does not care whether her husband returns later for dinner. And Mr. Pontellier even describes Edna as distant towards the children, and not overbearing as some of the other housewives are such as Adele. Edna does not seem to care nearly as much about her husband and children (who happened by habit) than she does Robert (who she acts upon with impulse). I believe further in the book, Edna will gradually return again to her childlike impulses and passion, rather than her life of expectancy and habits which she lives now.
I agree with this. Mr. Pontellier also seems to contribute to why Edna acts as she does. I think that with him leaving her to meet with the men he's friends with, and acting as if he doesn't really care about her, she has the right to want someone else. I'm not saying it's necessarily right to cheat, but I think that if someone isn't giving you their full attention that they're only bound to find someone else. Edna is odd towards Robert however in that she seems attracted to him, but she knows it's wrong because she is married. It seems as though her attraction to him is greater because of the fact that her husband doesn't show much affection towards her. I think that the explanation of her childhood in Kentucky is definitely foreshadowing for what is to come later in the book. At the end of chapter five and beginning of chapter six, Robert convinces Edna to go bathe. "Edna Pontellier could not have told why, wishing to go to the beach with Robert, she should have in the first place declined..." (pg. 19) I thought this moment as striking in movement of plot as Edna is showing her affection in more than a friendly way. This foreshadows the happening to come between Edna and Robert.
Does she really seem bothered by her husband's lack of attention towards her? Her childhood does give a different insight into Edna and her marriage. She did not really marry for love and seemed rather indifferent.
I agree that Robert has had an immense effect in changing Edna's personality. Before in her marriage with Mr. Pontellier, she had been relatively complacent and unconcerned with her own devices. However, being with someone like Robert has enlightened her to being aware of her own senses and desires. She does grow incredibly distant, even beginning to stop caring for her own children. As we will likely find out later in the story, these encounters with Robert surely played a great role in forever changing Edna's perspectives on marriage and life.
I do not believe Robert changed her so much as he awakened her. The only change that occurred is that Edna's eyes have begun to open. She is seeing things from a new perspective. Robert catalyzed this effect, but he is not solely responsible. It is entirely possible Edna would have awakened on her own further down the line. Edna's spirit was always like this deep down. Robert did not ignite her spirit. Robert just helped fan the flames, and set everything in motion.
Chapter one opens with a green and yellow parrot in a cage, which I predict will become symbolic. Birds in cages often symbolize a lack of freedom or imprisonment; birds are meant to fly. The third person narrator tells the audience that Mr. Pontellier had “the privilege of quitting their society”(2). The word choice of privilege and quitting evokes class distinctions and power. He doesn’t have just the choice or option to leave, but the privilege to quit. He is described as “looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage”(3). He sees her as a possession that he owns and values her physical appearance. Mr. Pontellier seems to prefer the company of men over his wife. He asks to talk with Robert and then leaves to go gamble. He has the freedom to do as he pleases. When Edna asks him if he will return for dinner, he “ halted a moment and shrugged his shoulders. He felt in his vest pocket; there was a ten-dollar bill there. He did not know; perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. It all depended upon the company which he found over at Klein’s and the size of ‘the game’”(4). It is interesting that Edna just laughs and doesn’t seem to care if he comes back for dinner or not.
ReplyDeleteThe Pontelliers don't appear to be in love and seem perfectly content to be together. There is definitely some commentary/insight into the expectation and freedoms of men and women. Is the bird in the cage perhaps symbolic of Edna?
DeleteThroughout chapters 1-10 multiple references are made to the sea. I believe this is symbolic for desire or love. “The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in inward in mazes of contemplation.” The interactions between Robert and Edna seem like there may be something more developing than just friendship. Robert is known to have flings with housewives, and additionally Mr. Pontellier is gone more often than not for his job. Adele even recognizes this and asks Robert to leave her alone because as Edna revealed at the beach with Adele that it left her contemplative. Adele is introduced in the book as a “perfect housewife” in a sense and is helpful to the reader because we are then able to compare Edna’s personality and actions to Adele’s which would have been more typical to Creole society. Edna is more of a “free spirit,” who was even deemed “not a mother-woman.” Her lack of immediate devotion to her husband and her kids is further apparent with the time she spends with Robert who seems to take her away from those responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that the sea is a symbol of love and that it may even symbolize Robert and Edna's love. There is obviously something more than a friendship going on. Robert shows romantic feeling towards Edna, however, I am not sure that she notices them quite yet. She has a husband so I don't think that the idea of Robert expressing romantic feelings is even in her mind. Divorce wasn't thought of in those days so that wasn't a choice even if she did have feelings for Robert. As the story goes on through these chapters, she starts to drift away from caring for her husband and kids. She decides to put herself before anyone else. Is this a bad thing for Edna though? Is it good that she is trying to focus on herself before she focuses on anyone else? Does this mean she doesn't care about her kids?
DeleteThe sea representing love or desire is a really good idea. The fact that the very fist time Edna and Robert are introduced to the story, they are walking back from the sea together. This could foreshadow something happening later in the book between the two that involves desire or love. It seem pretty clear that there is something between the two already. During their conversation at the beginning of the book, they talk about their walk along the sea and how entertaining it was. The fact that it keep coming up definitely means that the sea has some type of importance to the story, and your reasoning would clearly make sense.
DeleteThe personification of the sea is very strong with its seduction, invoking desire. However, I wonder if it is love/desire of something other than Robert?
DeleteWhat does the phrase mother-woman emphasize? What does it say abou women and their roles?
DeleteI believe Robert has changed Edna’s personality which is apparent when Edna is on the beach with Adele and telling her about how the scene before them reminded her of Kentucky. When she refers to her childhood in Kentucky, she said she acted on impulse, just as she might be doing when with Robert. As she grew up Edna said “religion took firm hold” and she began to go as habit. Edna may be realizing that her life in New Orleans with her husband and kids was all done because that was what was expected, rather than by impulse and desire. Toward the beginning of the book, Edna does not care whether her husband returns later for dinner. And Mr. Pontellier even describes Edna as distant towards the children, and not overbearing as some of the other housewives are such as Adele. Edna does not seem to care nearly as much about her husband and children (who happened by habit) than she does Robert (who she acts upon with impulse). I believe further in the book, Edna will gradually return again to her childlike impulses and passion, rather than her life of expectancy and habits which she lives now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. Mr. Pontellier also seems to contribute to why Edna acts as she does. I think that with him leaving her to meet with the men he's friends with, and acting as if he doesn't really care about her, she has the right to want someone else. I'm not saying it's necessarily right to cheat, but I think that if someone isn't giving you their full attention that they're only bound to find someone else. Edna is odd towards Robert however in that she seems attracted to him, but she knows it's wrong because she is married. It seems as though her attraction to him is greater because of the fact that her husband doesn't show much affection towards her. I think that the explanation of her childhood in Kentucky is definitely foreshadowing for what is to come later in the book. At the end of chapter five and beginning of chapter six, Robert convinces Edna to go bathe. "Edna Pontellier could not have told why, wishing to go to the beach with Robert, she should have in the first place declined..." (pg. 19) I thought this moment as striking in movement of plot as Edna is showing her affection in more than a friendly way. This foreshadows the happening to come between Edna and Robert.
DeleteDoes she really seem bothered by her husband's lack of attention towards her? Her childhood does give a different insight into Edna and her marriage. She did not really marry for love and seemed rather indifferent.
DeleteAlso, is the tone of the text condemning or critical of Edna's impulses and friendhip with Robert?
DeleteI agree that Robert has had an immense effect in changing Edna's personality. Before in her marriage with Mr. Pontellier, she had been relatively complacent and unconcerned with her own devices. However, being with someone like Robert has enlightened her to being aware of her own senses and desires. She does grow incredibly distant, even beginning to stop caring for her own children. As we will likely find out later in the story, these encounters with Robert surely played a great role in forever changing Edna's perspectives on marriage and life.
DeleteI do not believe Robert changed her so much as he awakened her. The only change that occurred is that Edna's eyes have begun to open. She is seeing things from a new perspective. Robert catalyzed this effect, but he is not solely responsible. It is entirely possible Edna would have awakened on her own further down the line. Edna's spirit was always like this deep down. Robert did not ignite her spirit. Robert just helped fan the flames, and set everything in motion.
ReplyDelete