Friday, February 26, 2016

Victorian Women Blog ✌️

To what extent do the female characters in The Awakening represent the Victorian woman? In other words, characterize Adele Ratignolle, Edna Pontellier, the Farival Twins, Mademoiselle Reisz and relate their characters to the norms expected of women in Victorian society.

  

   In the Victorian era, women were dominated by the male gender and was considered useless without men. They were thought to be created to please the men. Women were considered angelic and represented innocence. Women needed to be very pure, a virgin, and no thought of sexual actions. Their positions seemed clear, as to existing as a female is very difficult. Women cannot survive on their own without the help of men. The female gender was degraded and it's “only” use was to pleasure the men. Prostitutes existed because women stooped really low and they needed to satisfy the needs of the uncontrollable sexual men. A revolution happens to change the future of women's rights forever.


     Edna Pontellier is the wife of Léonce Pontellier, a rich businessman who resided in New Orleans. They have kids together and love each other, but they lack communication. Léonce is never home since he's busy with business meets etc. He doesn't give time to spend with his wife and kids. He's a very dominant and wants everything to go like he planned. Edna was like the women in the Victorian era. Her opinions didn't matter so it resulted for her not expressing herself freely. Edna is rebellious since she married her husband to get back to her father and sister, yet she learned how to love him. After she was married, her freedom was stripped of and thrown away. She is imprisoned with her thoughts and feelings by her husband. Like the women during the Victorian era, they needed to please the women, Edna obeyed all the rules her husband has issued. With this, Edna became introverted. She saw the sea and the freedom it has, so she's walking her tough path to a free world. 


     Adele fits the ideal woman because she loves her kids, worships her husband, and her life revolves around her family. During the Victorian era, marriage was the best position for a woman. They couldn't own anything or basically do anything. Adele did everything for kids and did anything for her husband. She followed all his rules and regulations to become this “ideal” mother type. She was considered women during those times because she did everything that was meant to be. 


    Mademoiselle Reisz was the opposite of women during the Victorian era. She is passionate about music and chose to pursue it. She is unmarried and without children. She represent freedom and independence. She has influenced Edna and is held responsible for her actions. She was exact opposite of how women should live. She makes decisions based on her opinions and not by a male. She's a unique character in the story and is very influential since she has broken the boundaries of women. 


     The Farival twins embodied the innocence women should have. They had to entertain the audience by playing the piano. I think they are dedicated to the Catholic religion, mostly to the Virgin Mary. They are destined to be like the other women. They're very pure and no knowledge of sexual thoughts. Therefore, they're being prepared to become the next generation of Victorian women. 




How does Chopin seem feel about the condition of women in Victorian society? Provide evidence from the novel to strengthen your answer.

     I don't think Chopin likes the idea that men are the dominant gender and women are treated with no respect. In the novel, Edna is an example of that. She is expected to be a motherly figure and to obey all her husband's rules. I think that's why Chopin uses Edna as the main character who broke the boundaries of women during the Victorian era. The author added the character Mademoiselle Reisz to emphasize that women could do great things. She is passionate about music and she pursued her passion and she's satisfied with her life. She is used as an aspiration to Edna to become a women like her.
       The author has a character that fits perfectly to the Victorian women, Adele. She is the ideal type of women during the Victorian era and she is the motherly type all women should follow. She loves her kids and does everything for them. Adele abides all her husband's rules and she worships him. 
     Edna has been used as an example of rebellious actions against society. She's going to be rebellious and act based on her emotions. She will be expressive and her opinions will matter. The author wants us how Edna’s character will evolve in the novel. 

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