The Awakening by Kate Chopin depicts the “mother woman” archetype juxtaposing Edna Pontellier’s desire to become independent and free of the limits of women in society in the 1900s. This juxtaposition of conformity and independence causes tension and drives the main conflict of the novel. Edna vacillates between consenting to the ideals of society and struggling to become independent and freethinking. Edna’s wavering perception of womanhood affects her relationships with other characters, who act as catalysts for Edna’s growth as a woman. She fosters friendships with Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz, whose stark differences in personality and lifestyles cause a crisis of confidence for Edna, as she cannot truly escape from the confines of being a woman in an …show more content…
Edna’s relationship with Adele Ratignolle is integral to her first “awakening” as an independent woman. Adele Ratignolle’s personality is more aligned to the conformist ideals of the 19th century, predominantly because of her mother like behavior towards her children and to other characters. Edna originally reveres Adele’s mother-woman capabilities, which is shown when Edna “[gazes] at her fair companion as she might look upon a faultless Madonna” (Chopin 20). The description of Adele as a Madonna helps confirm her mother woman and conformist roots, as the Christian imagery of the Holy Mary implies a sense of humility and piety towards the profession of motherhood. It also shows Edna’s pre-Awakening naiveté, as the depiction of Ratignolle as “faultless” helps convey. Edna is drawn to this lifestyle simply because she has not begun to question it. Edna reveres Adele like the aforementioned Madonna because she has no other alternative, and she has not truly experienced life outside the confines of 19th century womanhood. Edna and Adele both know that Edna is not suited