Questions

1. Chopin’s argument is that no matter how far we go to achieve our goals, we will always feel a
lack of accomplishment and turbulence. Edna is put into a position where no matter what she
does, she will always feel emptiness inside of her. Whenever she conforms to gender roles by
society, she feels she is being held by chains, but whenever she gains a small piece of
independence, she feels there is nothing she is working towards. Chopin’s work informs the
reader that society is always playing mind games onto people, because no matter what they do
they will always be unhappy.
2. Chopin is making this argument in 1899 to strike up conversation about the totalitarianism of
gender order that affected how women felt. Even if this book were controversial at the time,
increasingly, people realized the misogynistic ideals that put women into an endless spiral of
inferiority. She wanted to convince men and women that there are many potential ways to live
life, and that forcing individuals into certain boxes is unethical and a violation of their mental
health.
3. The most influential character was Mademoiselle Reisz, who serve as a muse of an independent
woman. Reisz is often portrayed by others as sad and pathetic, but she is a happy because she
doesn’t care what other think and from this Edna learns not to think how others want her to
think, but rather to think on her own behalf. Her most direct and influential moment in the story
was when she told Edna that to become an artist she must be brave and that an artist must have
a courageous and defiant soul. Although her words were partially used by Edna at the end of the
story to justify a suicide, Reisz’s defiance behind her phrase were important for Edna to feel a
sense of independence and aliveness in the meantime, being able to refuse to do things she
does not want to do.
4. How Edna conforms outwardly while questioning inward is based off her perception. On the
outside, Edna feel the need to conform to be accepted by society, however, in her thoughts she
wants to live a life of independence without torment for doing so. The story shapes mind
prisons, when no matter how she feels, she will always be stuck in a cage of social order, never
allowed to break free in the way that men can. The mental prison that Edna is in creates a never
ending journey away from her inevitable fate, causing her to resent herself and society
increasingly. The reader gets the message that social roles are always forcing people to do
things they do not want to do creating oppression and psychological violences. Society is not
just some innocent means of life but rather a toxic way to shape the environment that will
always lead to bad things for people.

Female Characters
Contribution to work. How does this character’s status,
Characters Relation to Motif position, and life choices compare to
Enda Explain the motif – part Edna’s? Is her lifestyle indicative of
of society Chopin what Edna envisions for herself?
Support your answer with at least two
criticizes pieces of textual evidence
Madame Good Friend Society’s Chopin is criticizing When Edna describes Adele as
Ratignolle Expectations that no matter how a perfect iseal of feminine
much people like Edna beauty, she is the ideal Edna is
of Women expected to live up to. When
work, there will always
the tells Edna not to move out,
be an insecurity of
she tells her to meet gender
someone being better. roles.
Mademoiselle Good Friend Independence The portrayal of When Reisz plays the piano,
Reisz Reisz criticizes how she brings Edna to an
emotional feeling of knowing
individuals even try true passion, something that
 to meet society’s stretches way beyond the
expectations, and closed boundaries of society.
When she say to Edna that an
how people make artist must be defiant, she is
themselves telling Edna that true passion
dependent on social comes form living as an
structures. independent person.
Mariequita Acquaintance Loss of Dignity Mariequita serves as When Robert describes
an example of what Mariequita, it is ironic that
not to be. Mariequita even though Robert has
confessed his love to many
has no respect because
women, he won’t give any
in no way does she
affection to Mariequita
think for herself, because of her lack of dignity.
Chopin is criticizing the When Edna sees Mariequita
toxic idea that women flirting with Victor, she knows
should have to receive Mariequita in no way is
validation form other meeting her own needs nor
people. meeting society’s
expectations.
“Lady in Acquantance Grievance The Lady in Black is a When the woman only wears
Black” (had vacationed notion that putting black, she symbolizes the
one’s self-worth into depression she feels through
at the Lebrun loss, which gives Edna the
house) one social idea is bad,
message that living up to one
and that once people
life goal will end up poorly.
lose their social When the women never talks,
conformity, the are she contributes to her own
under a feeling of lack of individuality, teaching
having nothing. Edna through example that
the only thing one can choose
whether or not to have after
social acceptableness is
independence.
Madame Acquaintance Futurism Madame Lebrun When Madame Lebrun
Lebrun (Mother of contributes to a notion widows her husband, she
that the status quo can manages the cottages on
Robert’s) Grand Isle conflicting with
be made better, and
Edna’s ideas that nothing can
that looking towards
be made better. When
creating a better future Madame Lebrun raises her
or whatever can be children on her own, she is
made of it is inherently signaling to Edna to even bad
good to do. experiences do occur, it is best
not to let others down.
“The Lovers” Acquaintances Young Love The couple shapes When the couple are in Edna’s
Edna’s hope in dating hammock, they couldn’t have
Robert, that they can a care in the world other than
for each other, that is the
become lovers before
feeling Edna grows fonder of
all of the house work.
with Robert as the story
Chopin is criticizing progresses. When they are in
leaving a meaningless the lady in black’s presence as
life without love. they always are, Edna sees
love as the cure for grievance.
 Quadroon Nurse of the Social Boxes The social boxing of Whenever Edna leaves the
Nurse Pontellier the quadroon nurse quadroon nurse to take care
contributes to the of her kids, she is piling duties
Family onto her without taking a
idealogy that created
second to realize the nurse
Edna’s conflicts in the
may feel about this given
story. Chopin criticizes work. Whenever the nurse is
how society forces even referred to as a
people into labels “quadroon nurse” she is
without understanding dismissed for her race and not
them as people. allowed to be anything other
than her race.
The Male Characters Section is on the Pink Sheet