"Oh! I'm never sick, Doctor. You know that I come of tough fiber—of that old Creole race of Pontelliers that dry up and finally blow away. I came to consult—no, not precisely to consult--to talk to you about Edna. I don't know what ails her."
"Madame Pontellier not well," marveled the Doctor. "Why, I saw her—I think it was a week ago—walking along Canal Street, the picture of health, it seemed to me."
"Yes, yes; she seems quite well," said Mr. Pontellier, leaning forward and whirling his stick between his two hands; "but she doesn't act well. She's odd, she's not like herself. I can't make her out, and I thought perhaps you'd help me."
"How does she act?" inquired the Doctor.
"Well, it isn't easy to explain," said Mr. Pontellier, throwing himself back in his chair. "She lets the housekeeping go to the dickens."
"Well, well; women are not all alike, my dear Pontellier. We've got to consider—"
"I know that; I told you I couldn't explain. Her whole attitude—toward me and everybody and everything—has changed. You know I have a quick temper, but I don't want to quarrel or be rude to a woman, especially my wife; yet I'm driven to it, and feel like ten thousand devils after I've made a fool of myself. She's making it devilishly uncomfortable for me," he went on nervously. "She's got some sort of notion in her head concerning the eternal rights of women; and—you understand—we meet in the morning at the breakfast table."
Chapter 22 pg. 88
This passage is important to the plot and theme of the novel. Mr. Pontellier is visiting the doctor because he’s noticed the changes in Edna’s actions and thinks something “ails” her. He says he’s noticed that Edna’s housekeeping has gone down the drain and she’s focused on the “eternal rights of women.” This passage is important to the plot because it demonstrates that Edna’s awakening is noticeable to others, outside of the reader. It illustrates that Edna is becoming more and more independent and defiant. This passage is important to the themes of Edna’s awakening and of the social norms of the time. For example, the passage confirms that Edna’s awakening is growing and there is a definite notable difference in her actions. The passage also shows how sexist and uneducated society was at the time the awakening was written. Mr. Pontellier has gone to the doctor because he believes his wife has changed since she is no longer doing “wife-esque” tasks. Even crazier is that the doctor pays attention and expresses concern with what Mr. Pontellier is saying. All in all, this quote confirms Edna’s awakening and illustrates the strong sexist society Edna lives in.
I chose this quote because I found it crazy that Leonce would go to the doctor worried that Edna is sick just because she has stopped doing what he expects her to do. I found it even crazier that the doctor listened to Leonce and expressed concern that there could actually be a real problem with Edna. This goes to show how far society and medicine have come in 125 years. It’s crazy to think that society was once like how it is conveyed in “The Awakening.” It’s shocking how blind society and cultures can be.
"Madame Pontellier not well," marveled the Doctor. "Why, I saw her—I think it was a week ago—walking along Canal Street, the picture of health, it seemed to me."
"Yes, yes; she seems quite well," said Mr. Pontellier, leaning forward and whirling his stick between his two hands; "but she doesn't act well. She's odd, she's not like herself. I can't make her out, and I thought perhaps you'd help me."
"How does she act?" inquired the Doctor.
"Well, it isn't easy to explain," said Mr. Pontellier, throwing himself back in his chair. "She lets the housekeeping go to the dickens."
"Well, well; women are not all alike, my dear Pontellier. We've got to consider—"
"I know that; I told you I couldn't explain. Her whole attitude—toward me and everybody and everything—has changed. You know I have a quick temper, but I don't want to quarrel or be rude to a woman, especially my wife; yet I'm driven to it, and feel like ten thousand devils after I've made a fool of myself. She's making it devilishly uncomfortable for me," he went on nervously. "She's got some sort of notion in her head concerning the eternal rights of women; and—you understand—we meet in the morning at the breakfast table."
Chapter 22 pg. 88
This passage is important to the plot and theme of the novel. Mr. Pontellier is visiting the doctor because he’s noticed the changes in Edna’s actions and thinks something “ails” her. He says he’s noticed that Edna’s housekeeping has gone down the drain and she’s focused on the “eternal rights of women.” This passage is important to the plot because it demonstrates that Edna’s awakening is noticeable to others, outside of the reader. It illustrates that Edna is becoming more and more independent and defiant. This passage is important to the themes of Edna’s awakening and of the social norms of the time. For example, the passage confirms that Edna’s awakening is growing and there is a definite notable difference in her actions. The passage also shows how sexist and uneducated society was at the time the awakening was written. Mr. Pontellier has gone to the doctor because he believes his wife has changed since she is no longer doing “wife-esque” tasks. Even crazier is that the doctor pays attention and expresses concern with what Mr. Pontellier is saying. All in all, this quote confirms Edna’s awakening and illustrates the strong sexist society Edna lives in.
I chose this quote because I found it crazy that Leonce would go to the doctor worried that Edna is sick just because she has stopped doing what he expects her to do. I found it even crazier that the doctor listened to Leonce and expressed concern that there could actually be a real problem with Edna. This goes to show how far society and medicine have come in 125 years. It’s crazy to think that society was once like how it is conveyed in “The Awakening.” It’s shocking how blind society and cultures can be.