Mademoiselle Reisz serves a dual role for Edna. In this short speech, Mademoiselle Reisz makes clear two things. First, she has impossibly high standards, which could explain why she never married. Second, she identifies with Edna and sees something of herself in the younger woman. Here she is basically advising Edna to turn her back on love and devote herself to her higher artistic calling.
This truth attests to the connection between the women. Mademoiselle Reisz sees in Edna the capacity to transcend the traditional role of women in their society. She identifies the artistic sensibility and yearning in Edna but is unsure if Edna has a brave enough temperament. She has warned Edna that if she wants to be a true artist, she must be prepared to leave the expectations of society behind. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Awakening!
SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Mademoiselle opened the drawer and drew forth the letter, the topmost one. She placed it in Edna's hands, and without further comment arose and went to the piano. Mademoiselle played a soft interlude.
It was an improvisation. She sat low at the instrument, and the lines of her body settled into ungraceful curves and angles that gave it an appearance of deformity. Gradually and imperceptibly the interlude melted into the soft opening minor chords of the Chopin Impromptu. Edna did not know when the Impromptu began or ended. She sat in the sofa corner reading Robert's letter by the fading light.
Mademoiselle had glided from the Chopin into the quivering lovenotes of Isolde's song, and back again to the Impromptu with its soulful and poignant longing. The shadows deepened in the little room. The shadows grew deeper. The music filled the room.
It floated out upon the night, over the housetops, the crescent of the river, losing itself in the silence of the upper air. Edna was sobbing, just as she had wept one midnight at Grand Isle when strange, new voices awoke in her. She arose in some agitation to take her departure. Be careful; the stairs and landings are dark; don't stumble.
Mademoiselle reentered and lit a candle. Robert's letter was on the floor. She stooped and picked it up. It was crumpled and damp with tears. Mandelet , a retired, wealthy, aristocratic-like man who still tends to his devoted patients, such as the Pontellier family. He wonders if Leonce is ill. Leonce comes to speak to the doctor about his wife, for he is worried about her peculiar actions and new attitude on life.
He complains that she has forgotten her housework, comes in late, and doesn't associate with anyone anymore. She is from good old Presbyterian Kentucky stock, he claims, so there can be no problem with heredity. Edna's younger sister, Janet , is to be married shortly, and the doctor thinks it a good idea to send her to it; however, Edna claims that weddings are the most lamentable spectacle on earth.
The doctor begins to try and explain women, as a whole, to Mr. Pontellier to be, is especially peculiar. It would require an inspired psychologist to deal successfully with them. And when ordinary fellows like you and me attempt to cope with their idiosyncrasies the result is bungling. Most women are moody and whimsical. This is some passing whim of your wife, due to some cause or cause which you and I needn't try to fathom.
Pontellier is leaving for New York for business in a little bit and wonders if he should take Edna along. Mandelet tells him to leave her and to let her do what she pleases, for her mood will inevitably pass. Edna's father is in town for a visit. He was a Colonel in the confederate army, and together, they look like a dignified family. He wonders why Mr. Pontellier doesn't go out at night with them, and implies that if they spent more time together in the evenings, their marriage might be stronger.
Edna claims that they would have nothing to say to each other at night. Edna enjoys waiting on her father and will not allow a servant to do anything that she could not do herself.
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