Blog Post 9: This Girl is on FIIIIIIIRE

In Chapter XIV, as Edna is discovering herself, she is also becoming closer and closer to Robert. One perspective could argue that her love for Robert is ironically just tying her down to another male figure, which actually makes her take on a more feminine role. In this feminine role, she cares for her children more, “coddling” and “caressing” them, because her passion for Robert needs an outlet that she can use without society’s disapproval.

                Robert decides suddenly to move to Mexico in Chapter XV because he feels guilty for having feelings for Edna, a married woman. On page 59, after Edna has offered him a fan he replies, “It does no good; you have to stop fanning some time, and feel all the more uncomfortable afterward.” Chopin uses this situation as a metaphor: Robert does not want to stay and let a relationship between himself and Edna blossom because he knows it will not work out, and when it is torn apart by society it will only leave them in more anguish than to begin with.

                On page 70 in Chapter XVII, Edna flings her wedding ring down on the floor in anger because she knows she is not happy with her marriage, but as a woman she has no control over it so she feels trapped and powerless. The act of her trying to crush it with her foot afterward is a symbol of her trying to break free, but she “did not even make an indenture, not a mark upon the little glittering circlet.” This is Chopin’s way of symbolizing how little power females had in that society. Edna slipping the ring back on at the end of the chapter even further develops the notion that females had no choice in society.

                In Chapter XIX, the significance of Edna’s painting is that she is able to find her voice and identity through it. In that time, women were not expected to express themselves, but painting allowed Edna to do that. Not only that, but painting also represents independence to Edna because eventually it would result in her having enough income to move out on her own away from her husband.

                To Edna, Madame Reisz and Madam Ratigonelle represent opposing feminine roles. While Adele represents the ideal female in society—one whose entire existence revolves around her family—Madame Reisz represents women who have broken free from standard feminine expectations. As the book goes on, Edna becomes much closer to Madame Reisz than Adele as she finds herself and breaks away from society.