ies and it also made it difficult for the plantation system to operate successfully (Walker 253). Background of Creoles: Until 1888 the husband was legal guardian and was given custody of the children when in a divorce. In the 1890 segregation was legalized (Jim Crow laws), but blacks horizons were expanding also. In Louisiana after the Civil War, African American men had voted in large numbers, held public office, served on juries, and worked on the railroad(Culley 119). In Creole society people are generally very warm and open, having plentiful long relationships. A mothers relationship with her children is usually very close, loving, and caring. The children are usually constantly pampered by their mother. Creole women, . . . were women who idolized their children worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels (Chopin 16). Edna Pontellier, was not this type of mother though, she . . . was not a mother-woman(Chopin 16). Edna is just not able to fit in to the Creole society because she was raised in such a foreign way from what Creoles exhibit, it is just too difficult. Just little signs of affection towards her are difficult for her to grasp, she becomes confused when Madame Ratignolle touches her hand during a conversation (Walker 254). She was not accustomed to an outward and spoken expression of affection, either in herself or others (Walker 254). Unbelievably, Edna and her husband are the most distant of all people because they were basically forced into marriage. He limits her and this infuriates her to the point where she gives up and just does as she pleases. He does this by speaking to her like a kid and treating her like a piece of property that he drags around because it is inproper for a man of his stature not to be married (Chopin 7). Robert is the only person in which she has a full relationship with. Unfortunately their relationship is ...
