A chunk of wet clay was thrown upon a wheel. It spins and spins and spins and with the help of a potterer, the clay begins to take a distinct shape. Kate Chopin’s The Awakening tells a story of Edna Pontellier’s journey to do away with her expected role as a stereotypical “mother-woman” within the Creole society. In this form, she is a mound a wet clay that is destined to transform into a stunning porcelain vase. Her revelation of the world and it’s endless possibilities eventually awakens her within. Whether they are for or against Edna’s newfound attitude, there are several distinct characters that Chopin utilizes, to mold the new Edna. First there is Leonce, who she shares a loveless marriage with, shames Edna for not submitting to …show more content…
Adelè is the epitome of the so called “mother-woman,” which is a housewife who unconditionally tends to the needs of her husband and children. Moreover, she is the exact opposite of the type of woman Edna wants to be. These two foil each other due to their clashing character traits and perceptions of life. Adelè prioritizes her family and puts herself second. She focuses a lot less on her passions such as piano playing; a decision which Edna does not respect. Without a character like Adelè, Edna would not have a prime example of the type of woman she should avoid becoming. Even Adelè herself sees the differences between her and Edna when she says, "She is not one of us; she is not like us. She might make the unfortunate blunder of taking you seriously,” to Robert; shaming Edna for not being a typical mother-woman. One thing to consider is that Adelè was born into Creole society while Edna was not. It can already be determined that there will be struggle with seeing eye-to-eye with traditions and expectations between these two women. Chopin does not utilize Adelè to put down all women who are family oriented, but to show how women in general should not be subjected to such strict gender roles without a