AP Literature and Composition (SHHS) discussion

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 these characters have on Edna’s marriage thus far?

2. In what ways do we see Edna expressing herself through different means, especially in moments when she is alone? Concerning Edna, do you think there is a limit to self-expression, especially against the conditions of societal standards?

Question 1: Each of these characters has an impact on Edna, Leonce, or their relationship. First, the Colonel's visit was at first beneficial to Edna as he let her paint him and took her new found passion seriously. It also is enjoyable to her to have someone to take care of that is not her husband or her children. But, his presence proves to be an unfortunate tension in Leonce and Edna's marriage, as he berates Leonce's inability to manage his wife. This further feeds into Leonce's thought that his wife is acting strangely and unlike proper wives, and this feeds Edna's feeling that she is stuck and the expectations of her are crippling and undesirable to her. Alcee Arobin becomes a tension as well, but not to Leonce's knowledge. After Edna and him were flirting and he kissed her, she felt guilty because she felt she had betrayed Robert, not Leonce her husband. This makes it very clear that Edna has no investment in her marriage or the life that she has, as she has already engaged in infidelity. Leonce interacting with Doctor Mandelet is damaging to Edna and Leonce's marriage because Mandelet gives Leonce advice about how to try and fix Edna, even though she is not broken. The involvement of these people drive Leonce and Edna further apart, until their marriage is dangling by a thread.

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.

1. Characters introduced into the chapters play a large role in their marriage, as Léonce asks for advice from both the Colonel as well as Doctor Mandelet. Men in this story have the same ideas and views on women in society and push for social roles as well. Edna and the Colonel have a lot of tension between them because he is her father and pushing her to go to her sisters' wedding. This is stressful for Edna and pushes her further away from her family. The doctors' advice to Léonce also pushes Edna away from her husband as she wants space and freedom.

2) "In what ways do we see Edna expressing herself through different means, especially in moments when she is alone?" When the kids and Leonce are away, Edna's expression can be seen in the new perceptions of the house. She starts to touch furniture as if she has never seen it before interacts with parts of her house, such as the flowers, as if they were acquaintances (Chopin 72). This shows Edna's reinvigorated state. Her renewed interest in her surroundings and her sense of friendliness coming from the environment show her comfortability without the societal expectations that the kids and Leonce put on her.

"Concerning Edna, do you think there is a limit to self-expression, especially against the conditions of societal standards?" In the most recent chapters, she does not restrain herself from doing as she pleases. The only conflict in which she feels remorseful would be her feelings for Alcee and indulging in the kiss. This remorse is not because she feels bad for her family, but rather for Robert, so even then there is no regard for societal standards concerning infidelity and staying with the family. Furthermore, she makes the choice to leave the house when Leonce is not there to fully prevent her from doing so, which shows that the only person who would have limited her was Leonce. Having that person be gone means she has the full ability to express herself.

1. These characters all add an outside opinion to Edna and Leonce's marriage. Doctor Mandelet says that women are sensitive and that Leonce needs to give Edna space so she can work out her problems, then she would come back. The Colonel states that he needs to be firm with Edna so she will be submissive to him in order for him to have the wife that he "wants". It affects their marriage because Edna is going through these problems, but Leonce is the one going to other people for help. This puts a strain on their marriage because Leonce is going to take one of the two pieces of advice given and Edna is the one who will suffer because of it. Either Leonce will ignore her and become more distant, furthering Edna's self-loathing because her husband doesn't want to be around her. Or Leonce will become more firm with her, which will make Edna internalize her struggles even further and will only lead to her silent suffering.