Adele Ratignolle Essay

Comparison between Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz In order to help to get a point or idea across it is not uncommon to provide two stark contrasts to assist in conveying the point. Writers commonly use this technique in their writing especially when dealing with a story that concerns the evolution of a character. An example of such writing can be found in Kate Chopin's The Awakening. The novel deals with Edna Pontellier's "awakening" from the slumber of the stereotypical southern

means. The protagonist of the novel, Edna Pontellier, does not possess the skills needed to become independent and, despite attempts to escape, succumbs finally to the doomed dream of romantic love.      Chopin sets up a contrast between Adele Ratignolle, "the bygone heroine of romance" (Chopin 888), and Mademoiselle

Lindsey Allison Mrs. Schroder AP Literature and Composition 3 January 2016 Awakening Essay: 1987 Awakening, takes place in 1899, a period in history where traditional gender roles were especially prevalent. Traditionally, women were destined to be housewives. The life of a woman was centered around caring for her children and husband. The success of a woman was not determined by her occupation nor accomplishments, but instead was determined by the livelihood of her family. The protagonist of Awakening

3. Semester Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. The French – Creole society of Louisiana 4 2.1 Cultural background 4 2.2 French-Creole women 5 3. The Role of Women 6 4.1 Edna vs. Madame Ratignolle 7 3.1.1 “A Valuable Piece of Property” 7 3.1.2 Edna – The Unusual Woman 9

the relationships she becomes tangled in, from friendships to romance. Throughout The Awakening, Edna Pontellier appears to exist in a semi-conscious state, failing to come to terms with reality. George Arms illustrates this theory in his critical essay,

had not had to wait half a century to find its audience,” this is obvious and was established at the beginning of the essay. Does it really need to be stated? Moreover, the final sentence (“It is up to contemporary readers to restore her solitary book to its place in our literary heritage”) reads like a final sentence from one of my freshman composition students. Why not end the essay with “The fate of The Awakening shows only too well how a literary tradition may be enabling, even essential, as well

The Awakening Unit Final Essay In the novel, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, the author explores several themes, including independence and a woman’s role in society and at home, by using other characters in the novel such as Adele Ratingnolle, Mariequita, and Robert Lebrun, as foils for Edna Pontellier. These characters also influence Edna’s final choice by the end of the novel, which stands in contrast to other possible endings. Adele Ratignolle serves as one of the main foils in the story. She

seem to be facing inner turmoil that correlates back to the relationship between women and society during these time periods. Ultimately, their experiences are what drives them to change how they fit into societal norms. Therefore, the texts in this essay theorize the relationship between women and society in a way that can be encouraging towards women. Edna, the protagonist in The Awakening, experiences this ongoing battle within herself. Besides this ongoing battle inside, she also has a tough time

constant clash with society over the significance of the difference between her life and her self. To Edna, the question of whether or not she would die for her children is somewhat simple. Edna attempts to explain this concept to her good friend, Adele Ratignolle, but to no avail, “I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself” (Chopin 62). Not only does Edna consider her life unessential, she categorizes it as equal with material

loves her and he wants to marry her. But her mood changes when her friend Adéle tells her that she should care more about her family as she does not spend enough time with her family because of her affairs. Robert leaves Edna behind because Edna does not give a clear answer to his marriage