The Awakening Foils Chart (Female Version)
Remember that foils are established through characterization, be it direct (what the author comes out
and says about the character) or indirect (what the character says and thinks about themselves, how the
character acts or looks, or what others say about the character). If you can deal with characterization
you can deal with foils.
Mrs. Ratignolle
Edna
Ms. Reisz
Text
Analysis
Text
Analysis
Text
Analysis
perfect
woman,
married,
extremely
happy with
her life,
beautiful,
blonde,
fertile,
Victorian
woman ideal,
conforming
Text:
~ "Many of
them were
delicious in
the role; one
of them was
the
embodiment
of every
womanly
grace and
charm. If her
husband did
not adore her,
he was a
brute,
deserving of
death by slow
torture. Her
name was
Meets
societal
expectations
of women
- Great
caretaker and
bearer of
children,
loving of her
husband,
knows her
place
- Symbolizes
women's role
in society
- Ideal
Victorian
woman
- Does not
question her
place/role as
a woman,
mother, wife
unlike Edna
- Is wholly
defined by
her husband
and children,
does not
reject
societies
expectations
Lost and troubled
as to who she
really is, trapped,
ultimately
submissive
despite spells of
obstinacy,sexual,
detached, a wife
and mother, a
Presbyterian from
Kentucky
3. "Even as a child
she had lived her
own small life all
within herself. At
a very early period
she had
apprehended
instinctively the
dual life- that
outward existence
which conforms,
the inward life
which questions."
(Ch. 7, pg. 13)
"Outward" Edna
conforms and
assumes the
role of a mother
and a wife while
"inward" Edna
despises these
roles and
questions their
prevalence in
her life
- Over time, the
"inward" Edna
dominates as
demonstrated
by her acts of
defiance
towards her
husband and
attempts to
swim
- She exists
within two
worlds- society
and individuality
- Edna
understands the
inherent "dual"
nature of a
woman in which
there are innate
roles in society
an outcast in
society, not
accepted by
her peers, a
little woman,
disagreeable,
older/ more
mature, self
assertive,
unmarried, a
mother,
musical
3. Text: "..the
most
disagreeable
and
unpopular
woman who
ever lived in
Bienville
Street. He
thanked
heaven she
had left the
neighborhood
, and equally
thankful that
he did not
know where
she had
gone." p.59
Ms. Reize is
not socially
accepted
because she
is not married
and has a
child which is
looked down
upon in
societal
standards
-Her music
talents and
success are
overlooked
because of
her outward
characterizati
on
-She tends to
isolate herself
from others
-She relates
to Edna
because Edna
is discovering
to become an
individual just
has Ms. Reize
had
-She is not
like the other
Adele
Ratignolle."
(Ch. 4)
~ "...her
beauty was all
there, flaming
and apparent;
the spun-gold
hair that
comb nor
confining pin
could
restrain; the
blue eyes that
were like
nothing but
sapphires;
two lips that
pouted, that
were so red
one could
only think of
cherries or
some other
delicious
crimson fruit
in looking at
them." (Ch. 4)
~ "About
every two
years she had
a baby." (Ch.
4)
and is not
defined by
her individual
self like
Mademoisell
e Reisz
as submissives
(C.21)
as well as the
concealed
individuality that
resides in their
internal beings.
- Edna cannot
outwardly
express her
"inward" self
because it has
not only been
consumed by
the position she
holds as a
woman in
society but it
could ultimately
lead to
destruction in
which she is
ostracized
- Different than
Adele who does
not have that
inner self that
questions and is
entirely
characterized by
one that
conforms and
hold true to
societal
expectations of
women. She
never questions
her position as a
woman in
society
- Different that
Mademoiselle
women
-No one really
enjoys or
wants her
company
-Ms. Reize
defines
herself and
tries to
escape the
pressures of
the society
around her by
moving
around
-Men do not
like her
because she
does not fit
the ideal
expectation
for a
household
woman
-She is not
significant in
society
because she
does not
conform to it
Reisz who is
entirely defined
by the individual
self who
questions
conformity and
negates society
in all ways
the ideal
woman in
society's eyes.
She is there
for the needs
of her
children and
husband and
generally
lacks her own
identity in the
eyes of Edna.
Direct
Characterizati
on
Text: " She
was moved by
a kind of
commiseratio
n for Madame
Ratignolle,- a
pity for that
colorless
existence
which never
uplifted its
possessor
beyond the
region of
blind
contentment,
in which no
moment of
Mrs.
Ratignolle is
content with
society's
demands of a
woman. She
is the model
women in the
eyes of
society
always
tending to
the needs of
her children
and husband.
Edna sees
Mrs.
Ratignolle's
"colorless
existence" as
one that lacks
a true
identity for
herself and is
entirely
dependent on
her family.
Unlike Mrs.
Rieze and
Edna, Adele
conforms to
the standards
of society and
wife to Leonce
and mother, "her
manner was
engaging," "her
face was
captivating," "eyes
were quick and
bright"
3) "...taking off
her wedding ring,
flung it upon the
carpet. When she
saw it lying there,
she stamped her
heel upon it,
striving to crush it.
But her small boot
heel did not make
an indenture, not
a mark upon the
little glittering
circlet...She
wanted to destroy
something."
(chapter 17, page
52)
Edna attempting
to destroy her
wedding ring
represents her
want to destroy
society's
expectations for
a wife and
mother. No
matter how
hard she tries to
destroy it and
how much she
wants to destroy
it, it does not
even make a
mark on the
ring, illustrating
how the societal
expectations for
a wife cannot be
eradicated.
When Edna has
her ring on, she
is expected to
be a loving,
obedient wife,
but when she
takes her ring
off, she can be
herself. Edna's
portrayal of a
wife is
Ms. Reize is
ultimately
portrayed as
an outcast
from society
and one who
quarrels with
the
conformed
members of
the social
construct.
Text: "She
was a
disagreeable
little woman,
no longer
young, who
had quarreled
with almost
every one,
owing to a
temper which
was selfassertive and
a disposition
to trample
upon the
rights of
others."
She does not
get along
with others
because they
view her as
subordinate
to themselves
due to the
fact that she
has no
husband and
therefore
unable to
produce
children in a
socially
acceptable
fashion. This
makes her
isolated and
viewed as an
outcast from
society;
however, she
is the only
one who
really
understands
Edna,
because Edna
is slowly
starting to
find her own
anguish ever
visited her
soul, in which
she would
never have
the taste of
life's
delirium." (Ch
18)
lacks a true
definition for
herself like
Edna's
drawing and
Mrs. Reize's
piano skills.
blonde,
beautiful,
perfect
woman as
viewed by
society, lack's
a self identity.
Text; "she
was moved by
a kind of
commiseratio
n for Madame
Ratignolle,-A
pity for that
colorless
existence
which never
uplifted its
possessor
-Excellent
caretaker
-Conforms
and meets
societal
expectations
-Madame
Ratignolle is
more
interested in
her children
and family
than her life.
She is more
concerned
with her
family than
herself.
juxtaposed
against Mrs.
Ratignolle's,
who is
represented as a
devoted wife
and mother,
which perfectly
fits the view of
the expectations
for women in
society. Edna is
also juxtaposed
against Ms.
Reize, who is
considered an
outcast in
society and
completely
defies society's
expectations for
women.
characterized as a
woman, who
throughout her
life has always
been defined by
the men or
children she is
with. She has just
discovered a
sense of self and is
trying to find her
place in the world.
3. Text: "Edna
could not help but
think that it was
foolish, very
childish, to have
stamped upon her
wedding ring and
When Edna
stomps on her
wedding ring,
she is defying
her husband and
displaying how
she no longer
wants to be
confined to him.
Edna is also
disregarding
society and its
expectations
when she
stomps on the
ring. However,
afterwards Edna
realizes that
stomping on the
personal
identity. Ms.
Reize is the
symbol of the
role that Edna
will play in
the social
construct if
Edna
continues to
negate the
rules and
expectations
of society.
"She was a
disagreeable
little woman,
no longer
young, who
had quarreled
with almost
every one,
owing to a
temper which
was self
assertive and
a disposition
to trample
upon the
rights of
others."
Mrs. Reisz is
an old,
disagreeable,
and ornery
woman
- self
assertive
attitude that
opposes the
submissive
expectations
for women
- does not
care about
other
people's
feelings;
blunt and
honest
beyond the
region of
blind
contentment,
in which no
moment of
anguish ever
visited her
soul, in which
she would
never have
the taste of
life's
delirium." (Ch
18)
smashed the
crystal vase upon
the tiles. She was
visited by no more
outbursts, moving
her to such futile
expedients."
ring had no
effect on her life
and was "futile."
In turn, Edna
decides not to
do similar things
again. By
characterizing
Edna in this way,
Chopin is able to
display how
women have the
ability to fight
back against
society's
expectations,
but will never
truly succeed in
doing so. Unlike
Edna, Mrs.
Ratignolle is the
perfect woman
in society's
viewpoint by
being
completely
submissive and
by being defined
by the others in
her life. Ms.
Reize is the
complete
opposite than
Mrs. Ratignolle.
She went
against society's
viewpoints and
has been cast
out. Chopin
juxtaposes these
characters in
- her
personality
completely
contradicts
what a
"perfect
woman"
should be in
the eyes of
society and
therefore
represents
what Edna
could possibly
become if she
publically
embraces her
individuality
- Mrs. Reisz is
contrasted
against Mrs.
Ratignolle to
illustrate one
of the two
extremes on
the spectrum
of societal
conformity.
While Adele
is the perfect
wife, mother,
and Victorian
woman, Mrs.
Reisz is the
picture of
individuality
and the social
isolation that
accompanies
it and Edna is
a mixture of
order to display
what will
happen to Edna
if she decides to
go along with or
go against
society.
Mrs.
Ratignolle is
characterized
as the perfect
image of the
victorian era
woman. Her
main roles in
the world,
producing
offspring and
taking care of
those
offspring as
well as her
husband, are
fulfilled to the
highest by
her. She
possesses the
utmost
beauty and
poses no
resistance to
the
expectations
set in place
for her.
3) Chapter 16,
page 47 "Edna had
once told
Mrs.
Ratignolle
Mrs. Adele
Ratignolle
works as a
direct foil to
Mrs. Edna
Pontellier,
with Mrs.
Ratignolle
posing the
side of the
selfless caring
mother who
would give
everything
she has
regardless of
her own
feelings,
contrasting to
Edna's
opposing
nature of
somewhat
selfishness
and selfabsorbency.
Through
these
characters,
Chopin
compares the
ideals of the
proper
Victorian
Edna is a woman
who has been
previously defined
by only the men in
her life (husband
and children) but
is now discovering
and trying to
embrace who she
is as an individual.
3. "He could not
see that she was
becoming herself
and daily casting
aside that
fictitious self
which we assume
like a garment
with which to
appear before the
world."
Edna has up
until recently
has pretended
and tried to be
the "perfect
wife" in the eyes
of society and
now Leonce is
thrown off by
her sudden
change
- Edna is now
aware of her
true self, the self
that is only
defined by her,
that she is
"casting aside
that fictitious
self" that is
defined by
Leonce
--> Edna is
struggling to
find balance
between her
two selves and
therefore often
ends up going
back to her role
as a submissive
wife
- Ms. Reisz and
Mrs. Ratignolle
the two,
struggling to
balance her
individuality
with societal
acceptance.
musically
talented,
"homely,"
little,
disagreeable,
old,
unpopular,
outcast,
Text: "She
had
absolutely no
taste in dress,
and wore a
batch of rusty
black lace
with a bunch
of artificial
violets pinned
to the side of
her hair."
As a result of
Ms. Reisz
being an
unmarried
old woman,
she is already
seen as an
outcast by
society, and
the way in
which she
dresses and
presents
herself helps
to establish
the point that
she has no
desire to
impress
anyone nor
does she have
the desire to
be the
"perfect"
woman of
said time.
Due to both
Ms. Reisz and
Edna having a
distaste for
the
conformation
to society and
being defiant
that she
would never
sacrifice
herself for her
children, or
for anyone.
Then had
followed a
rather heated
argument; the
two women
did not
appear to
understand
each other or
to be talking
the same
language,"
woman with
the more real
woman,
following
desires and
breaking from
expectations
rather than
suffering in
her
responsibility.
Mrs. Adele
Ratignolle
functions as
the epitome
of the idealic
beautiful
selfless
Victorian
woman,
adored by her
peers and
living a happy
life due to the
happiness of
those she is
responsible
for.
fertile,
beautiful,
attractive,
feminine,
matronly,
fashionable,
Text: "About
every two
years she had
a baby."
"the excessive
physical
charm of the
Adele
symbolizes
the Victorian
ideal of
femininity
and
womanhood
-She
conforms to
the societal
expectations,
unlike Edna
who is trying
are completely
opposite and
Edna is a
combination of
the two. Mrs.
Reisz is only
defined by
herself and is an
outcast in
society, but Mrs.
Ratignolle is the
perfect wife
who does not
have her own
identity. Edna
wants to express
her individuality
but ultimately
conforms to
society's
expectations.
Edna is a
passionate
woman who is
finding out her
true self, even
though her true
self goes against
the social
paradigm as the
ideal, traditional
woman, and she is
slowly gaining
content from that.
-Edna enjoys
finding out who
she is as a
person, and
realizes that she
can't move
forward happily
in life without
knowing who
she is.
-Edna does not
enjoy the
traditional role
of its
standards,
they ideally
will be friends
as a result of
the inherent
ostracization
that comes
with this
defiance and
inflated sense
of
individuality.
Ms, Reisz is
an unmarried
mother who
is not
excepted by
her peers and
is an outcast
in society.
Text: '' In
truth, he did
not want to
know
Since
Ms.Reisz is
not a wife or
a mother she
is constantly
looked down
on and an
outcast in
society. Ms.
Reisz relates
to Edna
because
Ms.Reisz is an
Creole [Mrs.
Ratignolle]
had first
attracted her,
for Edna had
a sensuous
susceptibility
to beauty."
to break
away, and
Ms. Reisz
who has
broken away
but cannot be
a part of
society.
Text:(chapter 16,
page 47) "I would
give up the
unessential...but i
wouldn't give up
myself. I can't
make it more
clear; it's only
something which I
am beginning to
comprehend,
which is revealing
myself to me."
of a woman;she
abhors it.
-Edna
symbolizes that
not every
woman was
made to be
perfect for
marriage and/or
to be a mother;
there are other
pursuits in life
that she can do
that makes her
genuinely
happy.
-Foil for
Madame
Ratignolle since
adele loves
being the
perfect
housewife and
mother while
Edna gains
depression from
it.
-Foil for
Madamemoisell
e Reisz since
Reisz is
comfortable
with herself and
enjoys being
who she is while
Edna is not quite
there yet.
Madamemoislle
Reisz realizes
that happiness
doesn't
anything
about her,
the most
disagreeable
and
unpopular
woman who
ever lived in
Bienville
street. He
thanked
heaven she
had left the
neighborhood
, and was
equally
thankful that
he did not
know where
she had gone.
individual and
that is what
Edna is trying
to become.
She is not
liked in
society
because she
does not for
fill the
expectations
of men.
necessarily
comes from
being the
perfect woman,
but Edna is still
holding on to
the idea.
Mrs.
Ratignolle is
the picture
perfect
women in the
Victorian
society. She
worships her
husband and
centers her
entire life
around her
duties as a
mother and
wife. Her
appearance
as a beautiful,
blonde,
feminine, and
fertile makes
her the ideal
creole
women.
3. "Madame
Retignolle
looked more
beautiful than
ever there at
home, in a
neglige which
left her arms
almost wholly
bare and
exposed the
-wife material
-bound by her
home. caged.
no identity of
her own.
defined by
her husband
- beautiful
women
suppose to
stay at home
and look
pretty
- cares for her
children and
husband
-what a
woman
should do in
the eyes of
society as
opposed to
Edna and Ms.
Reisz who
defy the
Victorian
society by not
conforming
and finding
their own
individualty
wife to Leonce
and mother to the
two children,
submissive in the
eyes of society
due to her role as
a woman.
Ultimately
submissive to her
husband, despite
multiple spells of
"disobediance"
Text:
"Looking at them
reminded her of
her rings, which
she had given to
her husband
before leaving for
the beach. She
silently reached
out to him, and
he,
understanding,
took the rings
from his vest
pocket and
dropped them
into her open
palm. She slipped
them upon her
fingers." (1.10)
- in the
beginning (1.10)
she's very willing
to accept her
marriage with
leonce. very
docile about it,
calm about
taking the rings
back
- later on (17.3132) she begins
to take umbrage
with the
marriage.
attempts to
destroy the
wedding ring
but ultimately
fails, just like
she's ultimately
going to fail at
ending the
marriage
- the wedding
ring, like her
marriage, is
indestructable in
the eyes of
society
- similar to reize,
she's beginning
to question the
societal roles
musically
talented,
outcast,
argues and
quarrels with
everyone,
unconvention
al, unpopular,
inspires Edna
3. Text: "In
truth, he did
not want to
know her at
all...equally
thankful that
he did not
know where
she had
gone."
Ms. Reisz is
depicted as
an
unconvention
al member of
society
because she
does not
conform to its
expectations
of women.
She is neither
a wife nor a
mother, and
therefore is
free from the
restraints of a
husband and
the burden of
children. This
is the woman
Edna wishes
she could
have been.
Since she
does not
conform to
society's rule,
Ms. Reisz
does not feel
the need to
let society
control her.
This makes
rich, melting
curves of her
white throat."
(ch18 pg 55)
Perfect
example of a
Victorian
woman,
beautiful,
fertile,
motherly,
faceless.
Text: "Then
the candor of
the whole
"Once she
stopped, and
taking off her
wedding ring,
flung it upon the
carpet. When she
saw it lying there,
she stamped her
heel upon it,
striving to crush it.
But her small boot
heel did not make
an indenture, not
a mark upon the
little glittering
circlet." (17.31-32)
Mrs.Ratignoll
e is the
"poster child"
of the
Victorian
woman ,
tending to
her husband
and children.
She gets her
happiness
Unhappy,
insecure,
submissive,
oppressed, unsure
of herself, typical
woman in society,
wife and mother,
curious, defined
by her family
Text:
- "An
- dissimilar to
ratignolle, she's
unhappy in her
marriage,
unhappy to
simply be
someone who
produces
children all the
time
Edna attempts
to uphold her
role in society as
a wife and
mother, but is
extremely
displeased with
this lifestyle,
which says that
there is more to
her as a woman
others
perceive her
as
"disagreeble
and
unpopular."
Ms. Reisz is
the exact
opposite of
Adele. The
significance
of Edna's
dislike of
Adele's
"colorless
existence"
and her
desire to
spend time
with Ms.
Reisz
indicates that
she is anxious
for
independenc
e and
freedom from
society's
expectations
of a woman.
musically
gifted,
unmarried,
childless,
recluse,
outcast from
society.
Text: "she
was a
disagreeable
little woman,
Ms. Reisz
does not
conform to
societies
views of an
adult woman
due to the
fact that she
is unmarried
and has not
had any
woman's
existence,
which
everyone
might read,
and which
formed so
striking a
contrast to
her own
habitual
reserve-- this
might have
furnishes a
link."
only from
pleasing her
husband and
children,
giving her no
identity other
than a
mother and a
wife. Unlike
Mrs.Ratignoll
e, Edna is
unhappy with
her life and
seeks to
break free
from her
expectations
as a woman
to pursue her
own
happiness,
and Mrs.
Reisz is a
misfit in
society for
not
conforming
to the
expectations
of woman
during the
era.
indescribable
oppression, which
seemed to
generate in some
unfamiliar part of
her consciousness,
filled her whole
being with me
vague anguish."
Ch 10
than being
defined by her
family.
-She is defiant
towards her
husband by
continuing to
interact with
Robert, and also
towards her
social
expectations by
'attempting to
learn how to
swim' and
discover her
internal self,
which displays
her desire to
inquire about
her true
definition as a
woman.
-She almost
drowns in the
sea, which says
she knows very
little about her
(inner) self
because of
society's
external
definition of her,
and she would
not be able to
survive without
the means of
her community
because that's
what she's
known all her
no longer
young, who
had quarreled
with almost
everyone,
owing to a
temper which
was selfassertive and
a disposition
to trample
upon the
rights of
others."
children. Both
Ms. Reisz and
Edna having
hostility
towards the
conformation
to society and
being defiant
of its
expectations
unite them
because of a
common
interest. Ms.
Reisz and
Edna have
similar ideals
and are both
rebellious
towards
society.
life and has no
experience
being on her
own.
-She wishes to
explore the
other parts of
herself and
determine who
(else) she is and
what exactly she
wants, but
doesn't really
want her inner
thoughts and
feelings to
interfere with
the security of
her social
acceptance.
-Her coming to
terms with the
uncomfortablen
ess of simply
being a wife and
mother
symbolizes the
multidimensiona
l characteristics
of a woman, and
their battle of
upholding their
roles and
responsibilities
in society vs
their inner
qualities that
don't necessarily
comply with
society's
expectations.
-Edna is
juxtaposed
against the
other two
women to
demonstrate her
struggle to find a
balance
between being
an acceptable
woman in
society (Mrs.
Ratignolle) and a
complete social
outcast (Ms.
Reisz). She
wants to be true
to herself and
content with her
life, without
being
completely
ostracized by
her community.
Her coming to
terms with the
uncomfortablen
ess of simply
being a wife and
mother
symbolizes the
multidimensiona
l characteristics
of a woman, and
their battle of
upholding their
roles and
responsibilities
in society vs
their inner
qualities that
don't necessarily
comply with
society's
expectations.
They [Adele
Ratignolle]
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
angels."
-ratignolle is
described as
the perfect
Creole
woman and
happily
conforms to
society; she
cares for her
children and
husband and
behaves
exactly in the
manner that
she is
expected to
-her actions
display her as
a model of
the perfect
woman, she
full fills her
husbands
needs and
childrens
without a hint
of defiance or
misery
-edna is
described as
a woman
who is
expected to
behave like
adele yet
rejects the
role; edna
She is usually
completely
submissive and
defined by her
husband, but she
is changing to self
reliant and
exploring her
independence.She
is exploring
breaking society's
expectations by
making her own
decisions.
Text: "Edna, dear,
are you not
coming in soon?"
he asked again,
this time fondly,
with a note of
entreaty. "No; I
am going to stay
out here." "This is
more than folly,"
he blurted out. "I
can't permit you
to stay out there
all night. You must
come in the house
instantly."...."Leon
ce. go to bed." she
said. "I mean to
stay out here. I
don't wish to go
in, and I don't
intend to. Don't
speak to me like
By refusing to go
inside upon her
husband's
wishes, Edna
displays an
evolution from
her submissive
personality to
gaining
independence
and self
direction. Edna
is moving away
from society's
standard of how
a woman should
act. By doing
this she is
learning that she
does not have to
always follow
her husband's
orders and she
can make
decisions for
herself which
goes against
what society
expects of a
woman. By
characterizing
Edna as moving
towards self
reliance and
independence,
Chopin can
illustrate that
would rather that again; I shall
focus on
not answer you."
herself then
be pushed
into her
husband's
and childrens'
affairs
-reisz is a
woman who
has
completely
rejected the
societal
duties placed
upon her and
has therefore
become an
outcast; her
persona
reflects
oppositely of
adele; reisz
lives the way
she chooses
to despite the
"consequenc
es" and does
not have to
tend to
anyone
except herself
"There was
nothing
subtle or
hidden about
her charms;
her beauty
was all there,
flaming and
apparent: the
In societies
eyes, Mrs.
Ratignolle is
portrayed as
the perfect
woman. She
sexually
pleases her
man, bears
once women get
a taste of
freedom and
independence,
they start to
move away from
acceptable
behavior. As
Edna eventually
submits to her
husband, Chopin
is able to
illustrate the
futility of this
struggle because
in the end the
man will have
the power or
the women will
be shunned
from the
society.
spun-gold hair
that comb nor
confining pin
could
restrain; the
blue eyes that
were like
nothing but
sapphires;
two lips that
pouted, that
were so red
one could
only think of
cherries or
some other
delicious
crimson fruit
in looking at
them. Never
were hands
more
exquisite than
hers, it was a
joy to look at
them when
she threaded
her needle or
adjusted her
gold thimble
to her taper
middle finger
as she sewed
away on the
little nightdrawers or
fashioned a
bodice or a
bib."
"Madame
Ratignolle
him children,
has stunning
looks, likes to
sew, and
overall has all
the qualities
that a man
would love to
have in a
woman.By
defining Mrs.
Ratignolle as
the perfect
woman, Kate
Chopin
setting the
model for
what a
perfect
woman of the
time period
would look
like. Mrs.
Ratignolle is
different
from the
other two
women
because she
follows the
social
construct of
their
Victorian
society, while
Edna and Ms.
Reisz both
choose to do
things that
harm their
image in
was very fond society.
of Mrs.
Potellier, and
often she
took her
sewing...".
""Madame
Ratignolle had
been married
seven years.
About every
two years she
had a baby."