lle Reisz was also no longer young by any means (Chopin 21). These two ideas led to her becoming a stereotypical (by todays standards) woman who had lost the youth within herself and takes all her aggressions out on the world around her. Even though she is The soul that dares and defies, she is still human and the lack of having a person in her life probably made her somewhat bitter (Chopin 63). Mademoiselle Reiszs independent attitude makes it hard for her to find love and also to show it; this, along with the Victorian Creole ideology, makes it hard for anyone to respect her. Mademoiselle Reisz explains all this away when she says The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice have strong wings (Chopin 82). Even though Mademoiselle Reisz is a pioneer in a time of restrictions, she represents a position of autonomy, of independence, the position of one who stops for neither thanks nor applause (Mahon 230). This independent feeling that she cast from her shadow was scary to the Victorian Creole society because it threatened the very core of their ideology. This Earth shattering commitment Mademoiselle Reisz made to herself was what led to attracting an unknowing follower such as Edna.With these facts laid out, any reader of the novel would infer on how society would make it hard for Edna to ever become her own woman. Edna had cast off her socially prescribed clothing and experience[d] a spiritual revelation within herself which society viewed her as just having medical difficulties that could be remedied. This unprescribed illness also effected how Edna could become her own woman (McCoy 1). Unlike the faded Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna had graceful severity of poise and movement[and] sensuous susceptibility to beauty which naturally made her a person who was also naturally influential (Chopin 14). The idea that she could start a trend deep within high Creole society was unnerving to the males of society a...
