The Awakening
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Kelly Stevens
Block 1
October 15 2006
The Awakening
Right away you understand that Mr. Pointeller holds his wife to a certain social standard. When he does not think Edna Pointeller is fulfilling her motherly duties he states that if it was not a mothers place to look after the children, whos on earth was it. He often feels she is neglectful where the children are concerned. Any time he approaches her about how he fees he comes to regret it. Edna however is comfortable with her role to their children. She does not wish them to be the type of children that run to her for comfort every time they skin their knees. They are independent and their nurse-maids are mainly to ensure proper supervision of appearances.
Madame Ratingnole, one of Ednas acquaintances once told her that a mother who would give up her life for her children could do no more. Edna replied that she would die for her children but she would not give herself. Madame Ratingnole did not understand what Mrs. Pointeller meant when she said this but then Mrs. Pointeller did not understand it herself.
In the society in which the Pointellers lived it was believed that a woman was to help maintain the social status of her husband by entertaining and taking callers of a similar or higher social standing. She was to make sure the house was kept up and was expected to be attentive and obedient of her husband. Mrs. Pointeller had been cooperative, and tried to be a good wife. She knew that he adored her and was content with what fate had brought her until she felt something inside that made her want to be disobedient. That is when she started to discover her true self.
Mr. Pointeller kept the house adorned with lavish possessions and was always concerned with the appearance of his home. He was generous in gifts for his wife, the children and their home. He believed it was important that his house be as impressive as it could be. In this way he was very protective of the image that he wanted Edna to portray.
Edna was unwilling to give in to the politics of it all and even thought of herself as a devilish woman. She began to become independent relying on herself and doing as she pleased. Her husband was worried about her strange behavior never had she acted the way she was.
Despite