so little interest inthings which concerned him, and valued so littlehis conversation." (P. 471) In Mr. Pontellier'seyes his wife was not a mother-woman, because "itwas easy to know them, fluttering about withextended, protecting wings when any harm, real orimaginary, threatened their precious brood. Theywere women who idolized their children, worshipedtheir husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege toefface themselves as individuals and grow wings asministering angels." (P. 473) Mr.Pontellier's wifeseemed more interested in using her "protective"wings to fly about in search of the independentsoul she once threw away at the altar. There was alove that existed between Edna and her children,but it resembled more of the love between themembers of an extended family today. "Sometimes[she'd] gather them passionately in her heart; shewould sometimes forget them, and their absence wasa sort of relief." Edna says, "I would give up the unessential; Iwouldgive my money, I would give my life for mychildren; but I wouldn't give myself." (P. 484) That summer, she awakened from her slumber andfrantically began to search for the gateway to herdreams. Throughout her life Edna listened toeveryone but herself. She accepted her assignedrole in society and stashed away her passions,dreams, and desires to the deepest part of hersoul. Some may say, that her "awakening" beginswhen a persistent young man named Robert beginscourting her. Edna begins to respond to him with apassion she hasn't felt before, but as alwayswanted to. It was soon after that Edna Pontelliersays words that define The Awakening, "I don't wantanything but my own way. That is wanting a gooddeal, of course, when you have to trample upon thelives, the hearts, the prejudices of others, but nomatter..."As the story continues, Edna takes many stepsto increase her independence. She sends herchildren away, she refuses to stay at home onTuesdays (as was the social convention of thetime), s...
