Rebecca’s Comments (group member since Feb 04, 2022)

Rebecca’s comments from the AP Literature and Composition (SHHS) group.

Bri wrote: "Respond to only ONE of the following: (Bri, Tyson, Savannah, Paige)

1. Chapters XXI-XXVII introduce a couple of minor characters (The Colonel, Alcee Arobin, Doctor Mandelet). What influence do the..."

Thus far, the colonel has brought joy to Edna but after refusing to listen to her husband about attending her sister’s wedding, the colonel advises Mr. Pontellier to be more strict with Edna. He influences their marriage to become more traditional with Mr. Pontellier being more dominant while Edna should be more attentive. Contrasting the colonel’s advice, Doctor Mandelet suggests that Mr. Pontellier lets Edna be and do as she pleases because he believes that her change in attitude is due to hormones and will soon pass. However, this allows for Edna to become free, distancing herself from Mr. Pontellier. When it comes to Alcee Arobin, Edna fulfills her desire to be with Robert through him distancing herself mentally and emotionally even further from Mr. Pontellier.
Edna expresses herself through her desires such as her deciding to paint again simply because she wanted to fulfill a hobby and it brought her joy. She also leaves and arrives home when she pleases instead of having to abide by a curfew and informing her husband where she is going and when. Due to the time period and self-conflict, Edna is experiencing, she is limited to self-expression as she does not necessarily fully understand what she wants to express. For example, she is in love with Robert but chooses to kiss Arobin instead and has not yet confronted her husband about how she feels.

Mackenzie wrote: "A driving conflict of the novella is largely due to Edna's epiphany about her role in her family as well as her new love interest in Robert. Edna begins to realize from the start of the story that ..." The impact Robert has on Edna influences her to become her own person. It is interesting that you say that if he was not in the picture then her desire for self-actualization would not be happening because it has caused me to think if she would continue to live her life as it is or find another person/ thing to influence her to change. If not, what is so special about Robert that has inspired her in this way?

Natalie wrote: "The novel has contained multiple conflicts up to chapter XX, including Robert leaving for Mexico abruptly and Edna being offended by this. She is upset to see him go having had no prior awareness o..." Similarly like you have stated, the multiple conflicts in the novel reveal that the novella can be analyzed through feminist criticism and gender studies. Through a feminist criticism lens, Edna is portrayed to be a conflicting character because she chooses herself over her children and husband even though she is expected not to. When Madame Ratignolle was first introduced, she was characterized with positive and angelic diction. Is she portrayed to be as beautiful as she is because she abides by societal expectations?

Robert is a man who is known to be flirtatious towards women through his tender actions. His relationship with Edna abides by these expectations as he spends his days with her, taking care of her like when she felt ill and needed to rest so he went and collected food for her as she rested inside Madame Antoine’s cot. His caring actions have helped Edna experience feelings that she has not felt before or even imagined feeling. His presence inspires her to be free through her own character. As an example, one night instead of going inside when her husband demanded her to, Edna instead told him that she will not listen to him and that he should not talk to her like that. Through his inspiration, the development of the plot is a development of Edna and her character as she is slowly discovering who she is.
A way that I am connecting with the novella thus far is through the different influences others have on me. Edna interacts with Madame Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz who are contrasting characters. Madame Ratignolle is a woman who abides by societal expectations, constantly tending to her children and husband, influencing Edna to behave more like her. Mademoiselle Reisz is a confident pianist who is portrayed as strong, influencing Edna to become her own person like she is. In my life, there are different people who influence me to act in different ways such as my classmates who influence me to work hard in school through academic conversation and goals while my friends influence me to act upon intrusive thoughts in hopes of making the most out of life.