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... using calling hours. Then the pressure that her husband places on her is what drives her to smash the ring and eventually kill herself. Another negative effect the social awakening had on her was that she found out she couldnt function in society, Despondency had come upon her there in the wakeful night, and had never lifted.
There was no one thing in the world that she desired. There was no human being whom she wanted near her except Robert; and she even realized that the day would come when he, too, and the thought of him would melt out of existence, leaving her alone. (123) Edna has this great fear of being left alone and losing everything she worked so hard for. She had gained all of this by having her social awakening and the negative result was that it created this fear. So she kills herself because she cant handle the pressure associated with the fear.
A third awakening that Edna has is a maternal awakening. This awakening can be interpreted in two ways. One way is that Edna interpreted her children as trying to posses her. This is very apparent at the end of the novel, The children appeared to her like antagonists who had overcome her; who had overpowered and sought to drag her into the souls slavery for the rest of her days. (123). When Edna describes her children as controlling her it angers her, and makes her want to leave them which, she eventually does this by killing herself. Another time when Edna thinks of her children as trying to control her is right before she goes swimming, She thought of Leone and the children.
They were a part of her life. But they need not have thought that they could possess her body and soul. (124). Here again Edna thinks of her children possessing her as an object, but it is true that her children think of her as their mother and an object of their love. However, due to her maternal awakening she isnt able to comprehend this fact and feels that it is a threat to her. Another thing that the maternal awakening does is make Edna feel as if the children werent any of her responsibility. The first place where this is evident is during their stay at Grand Isle, In short, Mrs.
Pontellier was not a mother woman. The mother woman seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious blood. They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angles. (8). When Mr.
Pontellier compares his wife to the rest of the women at Grand Isle, he sees that his wife doesnt care about her children such as the other mother woman did. This shows about her lack of caring for them in sickness and a general lack of being a worried mother like most mothers are. Another time when Edna abates her care for her children is right before she commits suicide, She would give up the unessential, but she would never sacrifice herself for her children. (123). How can Edna not sacrifice herself for her children? The sacrifice that a mother would make for a child is shown on TV shows and stories about mothers who lose their children and would do anything in the world to end their suffering or have them back. To most people it is considered one of the most immoral thoughts to not care enough about your children to do anything for them.
Since Edna never felt this sense of responsibly the maternal awakening she had separated her from her kids more than it did to bring them closer together. The last awakening that Edna has is an emotional awakening. This awakening had 2 effects on Edna and the first effect was positive for her. The first time when she had a positive effect was when she learned to swim, Edna had attempted all summer to learn how to swim.
She had received instruction from both the men and women; in some instances from the children. Robert had pursued a system of lessons almost daily; and he was nearly at the point of disencouragment in realizing the frugality of his efforts... But that night she was like the little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who of a sudden realizes its powers for the first time alone... (29). Here Edna learns to swim with help but takes the first step independent from anybody else. This is an important step in her awakening being able to claim independence from any man or women. Another time when the awakening was positive was when Edna discoveries her artistic talent and then stands up to her husband.
It seems to me the utmost folly for a woman at the head of a household, and the mother of children, to spend in atelier days which would be better employed contriving for the comfort of the family. I feel like painting, answered Edna. Perhaps I shant always feel like it. Then by Gods name paint! But dont let the family go to the devil. (61).
This is where due to Edna's emotional awakening she is able to take a stand against her husbands yelling at her and is able to defend her attitude about her painting and artistic work. Even though the awakening was positive for Edna it also had its negative effects on her. One time when there is a negative effect is when Edna realizes she loves Robert but they cant be together, Robert, she said, are you asleep? No, he answered, looking up at her. She leaned over and kissed him a soft, cool, delicate kiss, whose voluptuous sting penetrated his whole being then she moved away from him. (115).
This is another time when Edna is allowed due to her awakening to lose something that she really wants which is Robert. When Edna finds out that Robert loves her too, but because of her husband it never materializes into a relationship which leads to heartbreak. It is another thing that adds to the list of things that causes depression, and leads to her suicide. A last negative effect of her emotional awakening is when she realizes she cant ever be with Robert, Robert wasnt waiting for her in the little parlor. He was nowhere at hand.
The house was empty. But he had scrawled on a piece of paper that lay in the lamplight: I love you. Goodbye because I love you. When Robert leaves her because it is a love that will not be allowed to happen is what sends Edna over the edge.
If she had never had the emotional awakening she would have never been let down by Robert again, again and again. The awakenings that Edna has or suffers from all lead to make her eventually commit suicide. If she had never had the marital awakening she would have never been able to have the other awakenings that involved Robert or the other men in her life excluding her husband. Edna's ability to have these awakenings depended on her will to keep going, but eventually she wouldnt have enough strength to withstand the constant negative effects which paralleled the positive effects that each awakening brought on. So in her last way to try and rid herself of the negative effects, she kills herself. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on Grand Isle Negative Effect
