Edna Pontellier was a controversial character. She upset many nineteenth century expectations for women and their supposed roles. One of her most shocking actions was her denial of her role as a mother and wife. Kate Chopin displays this rejection gradually, but the concept of motherhood is major theme throughout the novel.
Edna is fighting against the societal and natural structures of motherhood that force her to be defined by her title as wife of Leonce Pontellier and mother of Raoul and Etienne Pontellier, instead of being her own, self-defined individual. Through Chopin’s focus on two other female characters, Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz, Edna’s options of life paths are exhibited.
These women are the examples that the men around Edna contrast her with and from whom they obtain their expectations for her. Edna, however, finds both role models lacking and begins to see that the life of freedom and individuality that she wants goes against both society and nature. The inevitability of her fate as a male-defined creature brings her to a state of despair, and she frees herself the only way she can, through suicide.
Answer:
Extreme Welsh Meter by Gwyneth Lewis, : )
The meaning of the phrase "thou art wedded to calamity” is that <u>You often have disaster around you.</u>
This dialogue has been said by Friar Lawrence to Romeo in the play “Romeo and Juliet.” sufferings have been personified as a human being with whom Romeo has completed the steps of marriage. It was after meeting and falling in love with Juliet that Romeo's life got surrounded by difficulties. A metaphor has been used in the line which compares Juliet with 'calamity.'
I think its:
But what else could we do? We could not give her those glib assurances that naive souls make so easily to others concerning their after state.
