Edna’s Realization in Chapter 28 of Chopin’s The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening

Ednas Realization in Chapter 28 of Chopins The Awakening The fifteen lines of chapter 28 express Ednas multi-voiced mindset after her relationship with Arobin exceeds the boundaries of friendship. The chapter opens with her crying and then explores the process of guilt as it sets in. Ednas guilt, however, is afflicted by the other figures in her life, not by her own sense of wrongdoing. The patchipulating voices in Ednas life do affect her, but they do not linger as they once did. It is her voice, her realization, that comes at the end.The chapters second line, It was only one phase of the multitudinous emotions which had assailed her, suggests that Ednas emotions are influenced by other individuals the primary definition of multitudinous is including a multitude of individuals (Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary). It is as if more individuals than just her self populate Ednas mind. These men (she hears no womens voices) express their own wishes and wants, not Ednas. Their voice s and emotions assail her violently. First, Edna feels arbitrary - an odd emotion after an unfaithful act. She feels irresponsible as a married woman for she has not performed her appropriate duties, or rather, she has performed inappropriate duties as a married woman. This irresponsibility is the voice of nightclub. Edna additionally experiences a sense of shock at something new, something out of the ordinary. Her customary way of life does not include consuming sexual situations. Next, Edna senses her husbands reproach - his rebuke and disapproval. She does not sense his anger or his jealousy, emotions which would perhaps be more appropriate for a man whose wife has been unfaithful to him. Rather, he is concerned with what society will say. Her minds portrayal of Mr. Pontelliers response is quite accurate when Edna writes her husband to allow him know she is moving out, he is not angry or sad, but rather concerned with societys estimation of the situation. He joins society in disapproving of her. Then comes Roberts reproach, which she attributes to a quicker, fiercer, more overpowering love.... Roberts disapproval, then, comes from love, not from societys cares and not from a desire to protect her (or himself) from societys judgment. Yet this love is not Roberts, but rather her own. The love has awakened within her toward him - and thus appears the title of the novel. She has been awakened to her love of him.