Notes on Amelia Barr’s critique of Kate Chopin’s
The Awakening
‘[…] if the father be the head and the hands of a family, the mother is
the heart. No office in the world is as honourable as hers, no priesthood
so holy, no influence so sweet and strong and lasting.’
The quote clearly tells us that the mother has a domesticated role within a family
and falls beneath her husband in this hierarchy; whereas “the father be the head”
and therefore bread-winner of a family we are told “the woman is the heart”; or in
other words a mother-woman. In The Awakening it is clear Edna is not a motherwoman and thus we can argue she goes against this definition of the stereotypical
roles in a family. Able to draw a stark comparison between Edna and Adele we see
that Edna lacks the mothering quality Adele personifies.
Edna is an archetype of rebellion against the role of the mother-woman. Following
on from this quote we are told that “self-sacrifice is the meat and drink of all true
and pure affection.” with knowledge that Edna is unwilling to sacrifice herself, “I
wouldn’t give myself” not even for her children, it is easy to suggest that any
affection Edna does demonstrate as a mother is therefore untrue and impure.
Edna’s behaviour throughout the novel seems to contradict every part of this
statement. We are told there is “no priesthood as holy” and know that Edna lacks
religious concern; we are told that “no office in the world is so honourable as hers”
and “no influence so sweet and strong and lasting” yet we fail to see how she fulfils
this “office” or has an influence in her role as a mother-woman at all. Within the
whole novel we see Edna fail to fulfil her roles as a mother-woman as she
impersonates what I would imagine to be the traits of an anti-mother-woman.
She is hardly with her children and fails to capture within us the same awe she has
for Adele, the impersonation of a mother-woman with whom she in constant
juxtaposition. Furthermore the numerous occasions on which she abandons her
“office” within her household delineate her disregard for all conventions of society,
especially that of the mother-woman. Her eventual departure from Leonce’s house
symbolizes her breaking from society and its domestication; she becomes what the
article describes to us as a “bad mother” and “moral failure”.
The adjectives used to describe a mother create a very wholesome figure. The
range of descriptive words portray a mother as someone who is more focused on
addressing the emotional and spiritual aspects of their children’s lives, as
opposed to the materialistic focus of the father.
However, there is quite a disparity between the mother-love declared by Amelia
E. Barr and the way in which Edna is portrayed as a mother in The Awakening.
Throughout the novel, there are reference made to some of Edna’s family such as
her father and her sister, Janet. From these references, we learn through
Chopin’s narration, that the notion of family displays no great significance with
Edna. We are told that Edna ‘was not very warmly or deeply attached’ to her
father and her father also reproaches Edna for ‘her lack of filial kindness and
respect’. Edna’s seemingly despondent stance on family can be linked with her
attitude towards her two sons and this is only further highlighted by comparing
her to other motherly figures such as Madame Ratignolle.
Another quote from Amelia Barr which reads, ‘For mother love is the spirit of
self-sacrifice even unto death’. This made me immediately link this back to the
moment in chapter 16 when Edna is discussing her thoughts and emotions with
Ratignolle. We then enter a passage where children become a focus of the
conversation. Chopin writes, ‘Edna had once told Madame Ratignolle that that
she would never sacrifice herself for her children, or for anyone.’ We then go on
to hear that the two get into a ‘rather heated argument’ and Chopin made it very
clear that the two harboured a very different outlook on this topic. What I found
most interesting is the way Chopin describes Edna as trying to ‘appease her
friend’ and explain. Edna goes on to say, ‘I would give up the unessential; I would
give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself’.
There are several things I picked up from this. Firstly, the use of the word
appease made me think that what Edna just said was not a true representation of
how she felt and her true attitude towards her children. Perhaps, she felt like a
bad mother displaying her lack of desire to self-sacrifice for her children whilst
talking to a mother who is making it clear that she would. However, even if we
accept what Edna is saying as true, it is still quite confusing. She says that she
would give her life for her children, but wouldn’t give herself. To most people,
this would appear an obvious contradiction but I think it is more than that. In a
novel which focuses on the sexual awakening of Edna, Edna has her happiness at
the forefront of everything. Ratignolle isn’t very impressed by Edna’s selfishness
rather than selflessness and Ratignolle’s biblical reference once again highlights
the difference between Barr’s description of a mother-woman and the way Edna
behaves.
My first thought after reading this quote was how it is a stark contrast to the title
of the novel ‘the awakening’, as the topic does not involve anything ‘holy’ or
‘lasting’.
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The times where Edna was associated with her two sons were when Leonce
criticised her lack of maternal affection towards them and when she spoke with
Adele Ratignolle, the women who best represents their society’s ‘motherwomen’.
Chopin made clear of Edna’s indifference to the conventional mother-women
using hyperbolic physical contrasts between Edna who is allegedly masculine
looking, and Adele who is described as gloriously elegant and feminine. Their
views substantially differ. An example of this would be Edna’s supposedly
‘selfish’ view on how she would ‘give up everything but not herself for her
children’ which then led to a heated argument between her and Adele.
The constant reminders of her lack of maternal love include Adele’s exclamation
‘think of the children!’ to Edna, who does so and commits suicide once she has
her reality awakening.
Exploring Edna and Adele as mother’s in the novel ‘The Awakening’
Edna:
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Edna Pontellier can be seen as a controversial character as she failed to fulfil her
role as a dutiful wife and devoted mother.
As a character, she upset many nineteenth century women by unfulfilling the
expectations supposed roles for women in society.
The concept of motherhood is a major theme throughout the novel and Chopin
displays the rejection of motherhood as Edna begins to lose herself.
The readers begin to recognise that Edna is unable to handle the societal and
natural structures of motherhood, she does not want to be known as the wife of
Leonce Pontellier, therefore she seeks for individuality and independence.
Chopin introduces Adele Ratignolle as a friend of Edna’s in her novel. Adele is
seen as the perfect wife and mother who fits into the society norms. However,
Edna chooses the opposite path of Adele and decides to go against society when
seeking for freedom and individuality.
Adele Ratignolle can be regarded as the epitome of the male-defined wife and
mother. She is a mother-woman.
The mother-women were women who idolized their children, worshipped their
husbands and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals
and grow wings as ministering angels.
Adele is described as being a fairly talented pianist, yet even the very personal
act of creating music is performed for the sake of her children. “She was keeping
up her music on account of the children, she said; because she and her husband
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both considered it a means of brightening the home and making it attractive”.
Adele also brings constant attention to her pregnancy in ways Edna finds to be
somewhat inappropriate. Adele is very proud of her title of mother, and one
might say motherhood is what she was fated for.
Edna pities Adele and finds herself unsuited for the lifestyle of the motherwoman. “It was not a condition of life which fitted her, and she could see in it but
an appalling and hopeless ennui. She was moved by a kind of commiseration for
Madame Ratignolle”.
Adele represents all four attributes of True Womanhood as defined by the Cult
of Domesticity.
The “four cardinal virtues [were] piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity.
Put them together and they spelled mother, daughter, sister, wife—woman”
(Welter qtd. Papke 11). This definition of self in connection with others is what
prevents Edna from allowing herself to follow Adele’s example. She tries to
explain these reservations about loss of identity to Adele. “I would give my
money, I would give my life for my children, but I wouldn’t give myself” (Chopin
53). Adele fails to understand Edna’s search for individuality, and Edna must
look elsewhere for empathy.
Edna attempts to find self-definition by creating a third lifestyle option and
beginning to act like a man. She is desires to live a life of sexual fulfilment, while
not being expected to bear or care for her children, and develop a personality
and individual self through participation in the business world as seen by the
role of a man.
Counter argument:
Nature reminds Edna of her position as a mother by making her crave her
children’s presence periodically. The first night that she is alone after Leonce’s
departure to New York and the children’s to Iberville, “she talked intimately to
[the doggie] about Etienne and Raoul” (Chopin 81). Even in her excitement
about her freedom, she can’t help but think about her absent children. Then,
after confessing her love for Robert out loud for the first time, she is inspired to
go to the confectioners and purchase bonbons to send to the children,
accompanied by “an abundance of kisses”. Here, while allowing herself to
consider love outside of the confines of her marriage, Edna still thinks of the
children and desires to spoil them with treats, reminding them of their mother’s
love.
The constant reminder of her children’s presence in her life brings Edna’s
awareness to the natural pull of motherhood on women.