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Transcript

An Analysis of how Edna's Relationship with Leonce Contributes to her Awakening

Edna as Property:

When Edna returns from the beach with Robert, Leonce tells her:

"You are burnt beyond recognition," he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage."(2)

Edna is a bird in a gilded cage.

Caged Bird:

Foreshadowing:

To be like “a bird in a gilded cage” is to live in luxury but without freedom.

This connects with Edna greatly due to the fact the only time her husband wants to talk to her is when he is discussing money. Furthermore he tries to trap her motherwoman 'duties', dissipating her freedom.

After Edna receives her rings, she "look[s] across at Robert and beg[ins] to laugh"

Her husband asks "What is it?"

Edna and Robert both try to explain, "but it was some utter nonsense; some adventure out there in the water, and they both tried to relate to it at once", however, "It did not seem half so amusing when told". As a result, the two "realized this, and so did Mr. Pontellier. He yawned" (3)

Following the laughter, Leonce leaves to the New Orleans Country Club

Rings:

Edna:

Allez vous-en!

Edna was "A green and yellow parrot, [that] hung in a cage outside the door, [and] kept repeating over and over:"

Edna's rings serve to display her problematic relationship with Leonce and with illustrate how insignificant her marriage is to her.

A similar song (don't worry, I wont torture you and make you listen to it)

Last (only?) attempt:

By: Blackmore's Night

Bonbons!

Instead of staying and eating with his wife, Leonce left to gamble:

Sapristi!

This gift from her husband serves 'sugar coat' their fight and win Edna over through gifts.

After Leonce and Edna's fight, "a box arrive[s] for Mrs. Pontellier", and it was filled with "bonbons in abundance." (7)

"Gilded Cage"

I walk alone, the night wears a shadow

Painted in silver, painted in gold

The moment ends in silence, then the moment grows old

And when she smiles, a thousand dreams surround her

Dress them in secrets no one can hold

The fire dies in the distance, as the embers grow cold

Sing for me now...

All the world is a stage

Smile take a bow,

From your gilded cage...

Behind the glass, she's safe where no one can reach her

Roses with thorns

Just make her bleed

A fragile porcelain angel

Break so easily

The restless heart

Cries when no one is listening

She's waiting for someone

Waiting for you

To want, love and need her

To help her to make it through...

As the moment grows old

In her Gilded Cage...

Edna asked if he was "Coming back to dinner?" but Leonce "halted a moment and shrugged his shoulders" (3)

"She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm"

The women Edna was with all "declared that Mr. Pontellier was the best husband in the world." (7) However Edna had already began to awaken to his tactics.

This displays Edna's and Leonce's robot like actions toward each other and illustrates how little affection they show.Edna did not care about her wedding ring and it simply served to bind and remind her of her husband

The mocking-bird:

"[Edna] could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mocking-bird that hung on the other side of the door, whistling his fluty notes upon the breeze with maddening persistance."

Mr. Pontellier

"He felt in his vest pocket; there was a ten-dollar bill there. He did not know; perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. It all depended upon the company which he found over at Klein's and the size of the 'the game'. He did not say this but he understood it, and laughed" (3)

Robert

Serves to mimic and repeat anything Edna says or wants to hear yet remains hidden.

Leonce on the other hand was unable to do what he wanted as a result of this distraction, however he did nothing to stop the birds.

"Mr. Pontellier had the privlilege of quitting their society when they ceased to be entertaining." (1)

"Mr. Pontellier, unable to read his newspaper with any degree of comfort, arose with an expression and exclamation of disgust" (1)

This displays how Leonce did not care in the least about what he was doing. He was essentially just going with what happened. If he truly cared about his relationship he would have a clear idea of what he is doing.

That night...:

While Leonce is gone...:

"It was eleven o'clock that night when Mr. Pontellier returned from Klein's Hotel. He was in excellent humor, in high spirits, and very talkative.

Following this, "His entrance awoke his wife, who was already in bed and fast asleep when he came in" (5)

"Mrs. Pontellier reached over for a palm-leaf fan that lay on the porch and began to fan herself, while Robert sent between his lips light puffs from his cigarette. They chatted incessantly: about the things around them; their amusing adventure our in the water"

End:

Follow their fight...:

Money:

Edna then leaves to go cry and her husband quickly falls asleep.

Edna blows "out the candle, which her husband had left burning"(6)

Patio:

When Leonce got home "he took a fistful of crumpled bank notes and a good deal of silver coin" (5) from his trousers.

Leonce leaving this candle to burn is symbolic of him leaving their relationship to melt. Edna blowing out the flame shows she it putting an end to this toxic relationship; she is breaking free

Edna then leaves to the patio (to cry even more):

Outside, Edna was vulnerable to two thing: the sea and mosquitoes.

The sea:

Mosquitoes!

Edna can hear the "everlasting voice of the sea" from her patio. This serves as a reminder to break away and that being with Robert is always an option

While outside, "The mosquitoes made merry over her, nipping at her firm, round arms and nipping at her bare insteps." (6)

This mosquitoes are literally eating Edna alive. They serve to represent the annoyances of her husband. Leonce is essentially draining and taking her blood, her life, and leaving her with an unpleasant itch and reminder of her unhappiness.

While gambling, "Mr. Pontellier had forgotten the bonbons and peanuts for the boys" that he said he would bring.

This further proves how Leonce was thinking only of himself while he was gone.

To make himself feel better he went to visit them while they were asleep. Leonce "turned and shifted the youngsters about in bed"

By doing this Leonce is trying to convince himself that he cares, but in reality he is only making everything worse.

Leonce then tells Edna one of her children is sick. Edna is sure the child is not, however, Leonce redirects the problem and turns it to Edna and "her inattention". He continues by complaining and saying how "If it was not a mother's place to look after children, whose on earth was it?" Leonce 'couldn't" because "his hands [were] full with his brokerage business."

Another point where Leonce puts his work first.

Edna could care less about Leonce at this time (she was sleeping after all) and as a result, Leonce became frustrated that his wife, "the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in the things that concerned him" (5)

This corresponds with Leonce's happiness; its what gets Leonce talking, for it's essntially all he knows

"Each was interested in what the other said."(4)

All in all, Edna was a caged bird, trapped in a relationship she was not happy with. She realized her life is being drained everyday and as a result awakened to her relationship with Leonce

(Lastly)

I have a video that describes some methods Edna should have used taken awakening to Leonce and some she already used.

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