he would never have married the young Italian. Winterbourne's conventional views are punctured, but it is too late.He understands his mistake now, and we know that he is aware of it through his choice of words. He says to Mrs. Costello, "I was booked to make a mistake. I have lived too long in foreign parts" (James 191). In other words, he allowed the conventions of the ex- patriot community to rule his instincts, and therefore lost a chance for happiness with Daisy.Having said this, however, Winterbourne remains in Europe, the same place that blinded him to opportunity. As well, he becomes involved with "a very clever foreign lady" (Ibid). The words "clever foreign lady" are all opposite to ones which would be used to describe Daisy. So, not only does Winterbourne remain in Europe, he also takes up with a woman who is the opposite of Daisy. Even after realizing his mistakes, Winterbourne has associated himself again with conventionality.The theme of conventionality versus instinct is slightly different in Kate Chopin's The Awakening. Whereas Winterbourne has a prior association with instinct, Chopin's heroine Edna Pontellier does not. Her life has been governed purely by the conventions of a patriarchal society. Before her summer at Grand Isle instinct had never been a part of her life.This particular summer, however, her instincts begin to make themselves felt. She begins to feel an attraction towards Robert Lebrun, and this becomes the catalyst for her internal struggle between conventionality and instinct. It is unthinkable for Edna, a married woman, to become involved with Robert. Her duty is to her husband and children.Her attraction for Robert, however, is too strong to allow her to simply dismiss him. She begins to contemplate the unthinkable, and thus begins the struggle between the conventions of her world and her new-found instincts. Her rebellion against conventionality does not end with her feeling for Robert, however, but ...
