On page 89, "Come whenever you feel like it. Be careful; the stairs and landings are dark; don't stumble." How might this be interpreted?
I interpret this as meaning the world that Mademoiselle lives in is not as clean and pretty as Edna's. Edna’s world is much more straightforward and complies with the cult of domesticity. She doesn’t act on her own interests, instead focusing on her home and husband. Therefore, she is welcome in mainstream society because this was the normal view. Edna has never experienced anyone as different and liberal-minded as Mademoiselle, and by saying this Mademoiselle thinks Edna may a tricky time adjusting to a life frowned upon by society.
Additionally, Mademoiselle secludes herself from society in her house and only invites people she truly wants in her home. She doesn’t extend an invitation into her house to just anyone, but she gave one to Edna because she truly enjoys her company and wants to see her again. The world inside Mademoiselle's house is very different from the outside world, and saying it is tricky to climb up means she doesn't want Edna to fail to get up despite the difficulty and to understand the different way she lives.
I agree with you on this. Right now, Edna has a perfect world compared to Mademoiselle. She is more organized with her family matters and is married. Mademoiselle doesn't want Edna to end up like her so she warns her by saying be careful and don't stumble. The warning has a deeper meaning into which can be interpreted to a mental and personal meaning. Will Edna not wanting to be a possession affect her ability to heed Mademoiselle's warning?
Is Mademoiselle Reisz warning her because she herself does not enjoy or regret her choices (does she envy Edna's life) or does she more recognize that Edna would not finding happiness/meaning living like her?
Edna's entire relationship with Alcee is her trying to replace Robert. Robert is gone, and may never come back. That is the love she wants, but can never truly have. Since she can not have Robert she subconsciously starts to look for a replacement. The replacement she finds is Alcee who is a sort of parallel to Robert. Alcee is another young man who is witty and begins to care for Edna deeply. He dotes on her similar to the way Robert had over the previous summer. However, Edna is not truly attracted to him the way she still was with Robert. Alcee partially filled the void that was left in Robert's absence. If Robert were to come back, Edna would toss Alcee away as if he were nothing so she could be with Robert.
I think that, in general, Edna likes the excitement and freedom she feels when tempted outside of her marriage. She is constantly trying to push the boundaries of her marriage and societal norms as a whole. However, when Alcee tries to push Edna, she puts an end to it and regains control of herself. This is shown when he persists on seeing her before the dinner party she had planned, and Edna refuses to give in to what he wants and his control in order to make her own decisions and keep control of her freedom.
What does it say about Edna, her character, as well the meaning to novel if Alcee is just replacing Robert? What is an importan distinction between the two men?
I agree that Edna would just drop Alcee for Robert. I think the reason she is leading Alcee on and allowing him to spend time with her is because she enjoys the attention. Without Robert there, there is no one to give her attention. I think that when Robert comes back she will lose any want she had for Alcee. She seems to just want to explore her independence with Alcee with the whole getting a new house and all, but she seems to snap back to what she truly wants (Robert) when he comes back from Mexico.
Edna is not a tragic hero. She is not a hero in general. I could see how she may be seen as one because she defies the social standards for married women at the time, however because she made the decisions she made, she had responsibilities to take care of. Abandoning your children is never the right thing to do. If Edna no longer wanted to be with Leonce, than she should have just been straight up and said something about it. This story can be seen as a tragedy for those Edna affected, like her children and Leonce. They tried to enjoy her and they cared about her, yet she refused to accept them as her life and instead made selfish decisions.
On page 89, "Come whenever you feel like it. Be careful; the stairs and landings are dark; don't stumble." How might this be interpreted?
ReplyDeleteI interpret this as meaning the world that Mademoiselle lives in is not as clean and pretty as Edna's. Edna’s world is much more straightforward and complies with the cult of domesticity. She doesn’t act on her own interests, instead focusing on her home and husband. Therefore, she is welcome in mainstream society because this was the normal view. Edna has never experienced anyone as different and liberal-minded as Mademoiselle, and by saying this Mademoiselle thinks Edna may a tricky time adjusting to a life frowned upon by society.
Additionally, Mademoiselle secludes herself from society in her house and only invites people she truly wants in her home. She doesn’t extend an invitation into her house to just anyone, but she gave one to Edna because she truly enjoys her company and wants to see her again. The world inside Mademoiselle's house is very different from the outside world, and saying it is tricky to climb up means she doesn't want Edna to fail to get up despite the difficulty and to understand the different way she lives.
I agree with you on this. Right now, Edna has a perfect world compared to Mademoiselle. She is more organized with her family matters and is married. Mademoiselle doesn't want Edna to end up like her so she warns her by saying be careful and don't stumble. The warning has a deeper meaning into which can be interpreted to a mental and personal meaning. Will Edna not wanting to be a possession affect her ability to heed Mademoiselle's warning?
DeleteIs Mademoiselle Reisz warning her because she herself does not enjoy or regret her choices (does she envy Edna's life) or does she more recognize that Edna would not finding happiness/meaning living like her?
DeleteDescribe Alcee's growing presence in Edna's life.
ReplyDeleteEdna's entire relationship with Alcee is her trying to replace Robert. Robert is gone, and may never come back. That is the love she wants, but can never truly have. Since she can not have Robert she subconsciously starts to look for a replacement. The replacement she finds is Alcee who is a sort of parallel to Robert. Alcee is another young man who is witty and begins to care for Edna deeply. He dotes on her similar to the way Robert had over the previous summer. However, Edna is not truly attracted to him the way she still was with Robert. Alcee partially filled the void that was left in Robert's absence. If Robert were to come back, Edna would toss Alcee away as if he were nothing so she could be with Robert.
I think that, in general, Edna likes the excitement and freedom she feels when tempted outside of her marriage. She is constantly trying to push the boundaries of her marriage and societal norms as a whole. However, when Alcee tries to push Edna, she puts an end to it and regains control of herself. This is shown when he persists on seeing her before the dinner party she had planned, and Edna refuses to give in to what he wants and his control in order to make her own decisions and keep control of her freedom.
DeleteWhat does it say about Edna, her character, as well the meaning to novel if Alcee is just replacing Robert? What is an importan distinction between the two men?
DeleteI agree that Edna would just drop Alcee for Robert. I think the reason she is leading Alcee on and allowing him to spend time with her is because she enjoys the attention. Without Robert there, there is no one to give her attention. I think that when Robert comes back she will lose any want she had for Alcee. She seems to just want to explore her independence with Alcee with the whole getting a new house and all, but she seems to snap back to what she truly wants (Robert) when he comes back from Mexico.
ReplyDeleteAlcee gives Edna a different dimension or "awakening." It is subtle.
ReplyDeleteEdna is not a tragic hero. She is not a hero in general. I could see how she may be seen as one because she defies the social standards for married women at the time, however because she made the decisions she made, she had responsibilities to take care of. Abandoning your children is never the right thing to do. If Edna no longer wanted to be with Leonce, than she should have just been straight up and said something about it. This story can be seen as a tragedy for those Edna affected, like her children and Leonce. They tried to enjoy her and they cared about her, yet she refused to accept them as her life and instead made selfish decisions.
ReplyDelete