The Awakening
(Kate Chopin)

I

Beginning with a description of life on Grand Isle, a resort on the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. Staying there is Leonce Pontellier, a businessman of forty. His twenty-eight year old wife, Edna, and his two boys of four and five are there, as well. Sitting on the porch and reading the paper, Edna comes from the beach with twenty-six year old Robert Lebrun, the son of the resort’s owner. As they sit down on porch, Leonce is described as commenting on Edna like a piece of property. Edna and Robert have clearly enjoyed their time together, and Leonce tries to understand what is making them laugh but fails to find it as entertaining as they did.

Once Leonce leaves to enjoy a game of pool at a hotel, the levity between Edna and Robert rises again.

II

Remaining on the porch, Edna and Robert talk about the happenings on Grand Isle and future plans. Robert aims to go to Mexico at one point, but has yet taken up the trip. He talks about how he has always spent his summer here with his mother and how the place allows her to make money to keep the lifestyle she wants. Edna describes her father’s plantation in Mississippi, growing up in Kentucky, and what her family is like and currently up to.

It becomes apparent that Leonce won’t be coming back for dinner, and Robert proceeds to play with Raoul and Etienne, the Pontellier children.

III

It isn’t until everyone at the Pontellier residence is asleep that Leonce comes home, waking up his wife as he does so. He interprets her half-woken state as disinterest and becomes disappointed. He checks up on the children to see how they are sleeping and finding himself unsatisfied with how they are laying down, attempts to move them into what he believes is a more appropriate sleeping position. He returns to the bedroom and then scolds Edna for not taking care of the children more, as he believes Raoul has fever despite her protestations. Edna finally relents and goes to check on them. When she returns, she refuses to speak to Leonce.

Once Leonce quickly falls asleep, Edna heads out to the porch and begins to cry. Though these spurts of crying were not an uncommon occurrence for Edna, it feels particularly bad now. While her husband is kind and loving, she senses some indescribable oppression rising up from her unconsciousness this time.

The following morning, Leonce leaves for New Orleans and both him and Edna forget the quarrel they had the night before. As Leonce is well liked, he is bid farewell by neighbors and his children.

A few days later, Edna receives a package from Leonce containing fruit, wine and various other foodstuffs. Mrs. Pontellier is accustomed to receiving these and shares them with her neighbors. As everyone compliments Leonce, she is forced to agree.

IV

Leonce can’t quite pin down exactly why he thinks Edna is a lousy mother- it’s just something he feels. The boys are described as independent children who pick themselves up instead of crying after falling down and can already hold their own in a fight. In comparison to the other overbearing mothers on Grand Isle, Edna is not exceeding motherly.

Out of all the women on the island, Adele Ratignolle represents the epitome of the womanly ideal. Compared to Edna’s subtle attractiveness that is more akin to handsomeness than beauty, Adele is described as “the fair lady of our dreams.” Adele likes Edna and often spends time with her. The day that Leonce’s package came in, she is sitting with Robert and Edna upon the latter’s porch and creating a winter outfit for a baby that would enclose it entirely save the eyes. Edna makes half-hearted attempts at the sewing activity, not quite caring for it.

Adele insists on having a health condition that she never specifies but mentions always and is worried about eating nougat during her pregnancy. Robert is about to make a comment but sees that Edna is uncomfortable with the conversation and stops short. Growing up in a pure American culture, Edna is still not used to the candidness that she finds amongst the Creole’s conversations. Edna’s reticence extends to having read a ribald novel in private that everyone else had already read in the open.

V

It’s a well-known fact amongst the residents who summer often at Grand Isle that ever since he was 15, Robert finds himself enamored with one woman every season- often one who is already married. This summer, he finds himself often in the company of Edna. The young woman doesn’t mind it though, admiring the sight of the young man like “a faultless madonna.”

Robert’s past infatuation with Adele is the subject of conversation as the three of them sit on the porch. He describes how she asked him to do many things and then was left like a dog. There’s a good-natured tone about the conversation though, in that Robert seems to know that his proclamations of lover weren’t being taken seriously. The two joke about how a Creole husband never has reason to be jealous as their wives are the most faithful and subsequently, Creole men have lost their sense of passion. Edna wonders why Robert doesn’t take this same insincere, melodramatic tone when speaking with her, but is glad of it as she thinks she would find it annoying.

Edna begins to sketch Adele. Watching her work, Robert places his head on Edna’s arm twice, each time being gently pushed away. With the piece done, Adele notes that while she doesn’t think it looks like her, she does think it’s admirable work. Edna studies the sketch and then ends up smudging and crumpling the paper.

Edna’s children come up and help her put away the sketching tools. Though she wishes to talk to them, the children only returned home to see what was in the package delivered. She sends them away with some bonbons.

Adele then has a fainting spell, and both Edna and Robert help her get through it. Edna has her doubts about the veracity of the affliction, wondering if it was merely a show. Walking home, Adele is greeted by her children.

Robert convinces Edna to go to ocean, which the latter finds inviting.

VI

While in the ocean, Edna wonders why she first refused Robert’s invitation to swim. She becomes aware of something illuminating insider herself that makes her think about the night she cried on the porch and her place in the world. The chapter ends with a description of how the ocean envelops and speaks to all people.

VII

Edna manages to convince Adele to join her on the walk on the beach- one without Robert tagging along. The narrator compares the beauty of the two women in more detail. Edna has a body of straight lines whose elegance isn’t noticed unless someone takes careful consideration. Adele’s figure is more conventionally attractive.

They end up sitting on a rug in front of Adele’s beachside bathhouse. After some pleasantries, Adele notices Edna’s distracted stare and asks her what she is thinking about. Edna is surprised by the question, but then explains that the ocean reminded her of being a little girl back in Kentucky. She describes how one Sunday she avoided religious services and instead went to a field where the tall grass enveloped her as she passed through it. She reveals that this summer has felt awful much like that moment long ago.

In response, Adele expresses sympathy and caresses Edna’s hand. The affection surprises Edna, but lets it happen. Edna thinks about her relationships with family and friends. How her oldest sister quickly became a mother figure and how she argued often with her sister Janet. She thought about how her friends- like herself- were quiet, reserved, and smart.

Edna lets her mind wander to past loves. The narrator describes how the young woman was infatuated with a cavalry officer, a neighbor’s fiancée, and finally a dramatic actor whose picture she kept on her desk and often kissed. It was during this last crush that she met Leonce, a kind man who quickly fell in love with her. As Edna’s father and sister opposed the wedding, she was only spurred further into it. She supposed that her and Leonce had similar tastes and thoughts, but was proved wrong. Once married to Leonce, Edna put away her fantasy of marrying an actor and took to trying to be happy with the life she felt pushed into.

Though she feels strong spikes of emotion every now and then, her feelings about her family can be best described as “fond.” The narrator describes how when the boys spent time with their grandmother one summer and Leonce was away, she didn’t quite miss them.

Leaning on Adele’s arm for a bit, Edna then sees Robert, many children and the nursemaids coming towards them. The two ladies rise and Adele asks Robert to help her home, perhaps feigning another infirmity.

VIII

Walking back, Adele asks Robert to leave Edna alone. When asked why, Adele explains that as a non-Creole, Edna may take Robert’s infatuation seriously. She explains that while he may feel ridiculed at such a statement, the community knows his attentions have always lacked sincerity, which is why they are willing to trust him alone with the wives and daughters of the place. Robert turns the conversation to rumors about the sexual scandals of Alcee Arobin. Upon arriving at Adele’s cottage, Robert apologizes for his curt reaction and says that Edna would never take him seriously anyway. He gives Adele a cup of bouillon and then heads home.

Robert goes into his mother’s room to read while she sews. Victor- Robert’s younger brother- leaves without notice- something which bothers both Robert and his mother. Montel- a man who has taken a sort of father-figure role ever since Robert’s dad died when he was young- has sent a letter noting he is in Vera Cruz, Mexico if Robert wishes to join. Though annoyed that he wasn’t informed of this earlier, Robert’s attention quickly changes as he sees Edna returning from the beach with her children. He uses the excuse of lending something to go down to her.

IX

A few weeks after the conversation between Robert and Adele, Madame Lebrun holds a party in the resort’s hall for the patrons. Though everybody there has heard their practicing, the children are asked to perform piano pieces and are lauded for their skill. Though Adele can’t dance, she ends up providing the music for the patrons to do so.

After having done much dancing, Edna sits out on the gallery where she can see the Gulf of Mexico. Robert asks her if she would like to hear Mademoiselle Reisz play. Though the older woman is not particularly liked amongst the vacationers and is known to argue with many, she agrees to come out of her cottage to the party to play for Edna, whom she is apparently fond of.

Edna enjoys music and vivid images come to her mind when she hears it. She has seen before a naked man staring at a bird and a woman dancing. She expects to see these again as Reisz begins to play, but instead she feels those emotions those images are correlating to; It’s such a surprise that Edna can’t help but cry. While leaving, Reisz comments that Edna is the only person worth playing for in that room, though everybody there immensely admired the performance. As the party dwindles down, Robert suggests that instead of going home they all go out for a swim.

X

The party heads out to the gulf and Edna notices that Robert isn’t walking with her family as he usually does. In fact, she notes that there have been whole days when she doesn’t see him. She misses him on those days, though she didn’t realize she would.

Edna has been attempting to learn how to swim with the help of many of the vacationers, but has found herself unable to without having someone close by. This evening though, some epiphany strikes her and she finds herself swimming quite well. She notes that it seems so effortless now and wonders why she had wasted so much time not knowing before. The party encourages and congratulates her. She swims alone and heads out farther than she has gone before. Whilst floating alone, the shore appears to Edna far away, causing her to panic a bit at the thought of drowning.

She makes it back and then dresses up. Though everybody is still out in the water and asks her not to, Edna leaves for home. Robert catches up with her and she explains how the night feels like a dream and wonders if she’ll ever again feel like she did when listening to Reisz’s playing. Though Robert understands what she feels, he instead creates an elaborate story containing ghosts as to explain her emotions.

Upon arriving at the Pontellier cottage, Robert turns towards his deferential habits in making Edna comfortable in the hammock. While sharing some moments of silence, the narrator notes that it marked the “first-felt throbbings of desire.”

XI

Leonce arrives and finds Edna in the hammock. He tells her to go in, and after multiple requests denied he becomes angry. Edna thinks about how she has always consented to his wishes and wonders why she ever did. Leonce then sits outside with her, smoking and drinking. They both wait until some time before dawn, when sleep has finally worn down Edna, and she desires to go in. Walking back, she asks Leonce if he’s coming in, to which he says, “as soon as I have finished my cigar.”

XII

The following morning, Edna feels compelled by nothing more than impulse and goes to Robert’s home to have him called upon. The narrator notes that this is the first time that she has done so, as he is always the one to show interest, but neither notices anything different. Though it’s early, her, Robert, and some other people have awoken early to take the boat to a nearby island for Sunday mass.

On the boat, Robert flirts with a Spanish girl named Mariequita. She asks if he and Edna are lovers and he responds no. While they talk in Spanish- which no one else on the boat understands- Edna observes the Mariequita’s bare, dirty feet and attractive eyes. She takes in the whole situation with ease and enjoys all of it.

Robert brings up to Edna the idea of spending time together on some of the islands. It sounds appealing to Edna, and they imagine the thought of finding pirate gold that they can spend frivolously. Edna feels that the events from last night have made her free from something she wasn’t aware was holding her down.

XIII

During the service, Edna suddenly gets dizzy and gets up to leave, with Robert following her. She explains that she felt giddy. Robert leads her to Madame Antoine’s house where she undresses, washes herself, and then lays in bed. She looks at her own skin with a new appreciation, and then proceeds to fall asleep.

She awakes later, finding that the house is empty save her and Robert. She asks if she has slept long enough for the rest of society to have died off, leaving only her and Robert. She eats voraciously and they end up sitting under an orange tree. When Madame Antoine returns, they listen to her tell stories about having lived on the island her entire life.

XIV

Upon returning to the cottage, Edna finds that Adele has been taking care of the children for her. Adele describes the happenings of the day- how Leonce almost left to go find Edna but was reassured by one of the service goers that she was merely tired; that Leonce had gone to Klein hotel to talk business with somebody. Adele leaves them, as her husband doesn’t enjoy being alone.

Once Edna comforts Etienne- who had been acting up until her arrival- she puts him to sleep and bids Robert farewell. She observes that she wishes he hadn’t left, as she feels it is quite right for him to be around her when he can.

She waits up for Leonce, singing a song that Robert had been singing earlier. She admires that his voice isn’t pretentious.

XV

Some time after, Edna joins many of the vacationers in the dining room. The place is buzzing with news and Edna finds out that Robert has decided to leave that night for Vera Cruz. As she and him have been spending quite a lot of time together, she is entirely taken aback as he had not mentioned it. Robert claims that he had been planning on going for years but decided to leave tonight as the ship that will take him there leaves soon.

The room bursts into chatter about Mexican people and questions about Mexican-made prayer beads. Edna remains fairly quiet, asking only a few questions about when he was going, and if he was packed, then leaves the place to return to her cottage. There, she distracts herself by accomplishing various little chores around the house. When the boys should be put to sleep, she tells them an exciting story that just keeps them up longer.

She changes into her nightgown and goes out onto the porch. There, Madame Lebrun’s servant girl sends a message that the Madame would appreciate Edna’s company until Robert leaves. Edna turns down the invitation. Adele walks by to check on Edna, and they discuss Robert’s sudden departure as inconsiderate. Though she tries to convince Edna to join her and Madame Lebrun, Edna turns her down as well, and she leaves.

Robert arrives a little later and engages in a terse conversation with her. She admits that she enjoys his company and dislikes that he had not told her that he was leaving earlier. Robert stops himself short of explaining why that is the exact reason he should leave. Edna requests that he write her and he agrees. He walks down silently to the boatman.

As he leaves she bites down on her napkin in an attempt to hold back her tears. She realizes that this is the first time she has felt the infatuation that she did when she was a little girl and a young woman with the actor’s picture. She is distraught at knowing that her new self-awareness wanted Robert but will not be able to have him.

XVI

As summer comes to a close, Edna spends a lot of time swimming as it’s the only thing that makes her happy. She thinks about Robert often, trying to get others to talk about him; spending time with Madame Lebrun in her sewing room and asking about the Lebrun family while looking at pictures of them. It’s during one of these trips that she reads a letter Robert sent to his mother, giving information on how he was doing and indicating that if Edna wanted to finish the book they were reading, she could find it in his room. She’s jealous that she was not written to.

Upon hearing that Leonce saw Robert in the city, she asks him many questions about how he is doing. She doesn’t feel odd in doing so as the feelings she has for Robert are not the same ones she has for her husband.

When talking to Adele once, she remarks how she would give up everything but herself for her children. She seems to be saying that she would give up her life, wealth, and well being, but not her personhood. It strikes Adele as odd- enough to create a heated conversation between them.

One of the mornings that she heads out to the beach to swim, Mademoiselle Reisz comes up behind her to ask if she misses Robert. Reisz goes on about how Robert was the only decent member of the Lebruns. She recalls how he beat up his brother Victor when the latter had started yelling at him for spending time with a Spanish girl Victor had his eye on. It turns out to be Mariequita- the same girl from the boat ride to the island. Edna feels almost depressed listening to Reisz’s gossip, but after a swim and the walk back, the older woman seems friendlier and invites Edna to her place in New Orleans.

XVII

Leonce is described as a worldly man who is fond of his every possession. He sometimes walks around his New Orleans house just to admire the things he has. Tuesday is usually the day that Edna receives guests at their home- a habit she has kept for six years- and one Tuesday a few weeks after returning from Grand Isle, Leonce notices that she is not dressed in her usually elegant clothing. He comes to find out that she did not receive any guests that day and become quite irritated. She explains that she merely felt like leaving the house instead of staying in. Leonce goes through the cards left by visitors and details why each one is either urgent or not. Complaining about the food and bothered by Edna’s behavior, Leonce decides to leave to have his dinner somewhere else.

Edna notes that this is not a new occurrence and that most every other time it happened, she worried about the food menu, scolded the cook, considered the quality of the meals, lost her appetite, and ended up feeling inadequate after all that effort. This time though, she just ate her meal and felt anger instead of despair.

After finishing her meal, she goes up to her room, tries to break her wedding ring, and then breaks a vase.

XVIII

The following morning, Edna refuses Leonce’s request of going to buy some furniture, and he tells her to rest up as she seems sick. Edna is uninterested in anything going on around her and proceeds to look over all her sketches with a critical eye. Picking a few that she doesn’t hate, she dresses up to meet with Adele, whose friendship has continued since Grand Isle. On her way, she thinks of Robert. Though she can’t pinpoint a particular thing about him that she misses, she feels that it’s the entirety of him that she thinks about often.

The narrator notes how the Ratignolle’s are known for throwing popular, elegant parties in their home that everyone wishes to be invited to. At their meeting, Edna pretends to want Adele’s opinion on whether or not she should take up drawing lessons. Edna has, in fact, already decided, and merely wants the affirmation. Adele encourages her to do so and invites her to stay for lunch.

Having had lunch with Adele and her husband doesn’t make her feel better or set an ideal for her to work for. She feels that the lifestyle is not for her and pities Adele a bit for the boredom that the life must bring. She considers the idea of “life’s delirium” and how it’s something she wants to feel.

XIX

Edna gives up having people over entirely and decides instead to do what she wants whenever she wants- mostly painting. Leonce is disturbed by this, pointing to Adele as an excellent example of a woman who both takes care of her family and pursues her particular hobby. Leonce leaves her alone at her request though, and Edna ends up painting portraits of everyone in the house.

The narrator notes that the change is due is due to the fact that Edna is now becoming her own person instead of pretending to be someone else. She paints as it reminds her of the ocean and her time on Grand Isle. Her emotions range wildly from day to day, and she can’t explain why; sometimes she hates people and other days she is blithe.

XX

During one of her bum moods, she suddenly gains the desire to spend time Reisz. Having lost the woman’s address, Edna uses the directory. The address listed is Reisz’s old apartment, and upon asking the nearby grocer about her, Edna receives nothing but negative comments.

Knowing that Adele won’t have Reisz’s address, Edna heads to Madame Lebrun’s house to ask her for it. She is greeted by Robert’s brother- Victor- who waits with her until his mother comes down to see her. Whilst waiting, Victor starts telling her about how he spent night before on the town. Though she knows she should act prudish, she is amused by the tale.

When Madame Lebrun comes down, she learns Robert has sent two letters since his departure, neither containing any messages for Edna. Upon receiving Reisz’s address, Victor escorts her to her carriage where he flirts with her a bit. Again, Edna knows she should be acting more reserved, but can’t help but laugh. When she has left, both Madame Lebrun and Victor note that she seems to have changed for the better.

XXI

Reisz is surprisingly happy to see Edna- uncharacteristically laughing with delight. Their conversation is polite but straightforward, with Edna saying that she is unsure about liking Reisz and Reisz saying she does not know if Edna can be a true artist. The older woman notes that an artist needs to have a courageous soul that can defy. Reisz reveals that Robert has sent her a letter that is all about Edna. Through some persistence, Edna manages to acquire the letter and reads it while Reisz plays for her.

Edna bursts into tears and asks if she can come again. Reisz says that she is welcome whenever, leads her out, picks up the tear-stained letter from the floor and returns it to the envelope it came in.

XXII

Worried about his wife, Leonce visits an old doctor of the family- Mandelet. He tries to explain to the doctor what it is about his wife that worries him, but Mandelet shoots down each of his concerns. When the doctor learns that Edna has become antisocial, he is genuinely surprised. Though Leonce believes that spending time with her family will help her, Edna has suddenly lost interest in attending her youngest sister’s wedding, describing all weddings as a “lamentable spectacle.” Leonce mentions that her family’s home in Kentucky had to be sold as a way to pay off her father’s horse racing bets.

In the end, he suggests to Leonce to let her live her own way and leave her alone. He characterizes women as beings who can’t be understood by men and the latter shouldn’t attempt to do so. So as not to raise Edna’s suspicions, they arrange for Mandelet to join them one evening for dinner as a cover for him to check up on her.

Mandelet wonders if another man is involved, but decides not to ask the question of Leonce.

XXIII

Having come down to pick out a gift for his daughter’s wedding and an outfit that would be appropriate for the event, Edna ends up spending time with her father. Edna appreciates the chance to redirect her emotions, and though she is not particularly close to her father, enjoys the time she spends with him. The old, Confederate colonel isn’t particularly fond of the children, shooing them away when he is posing for Edna’s sketches. The narrator describes how he believes each of his daughters has immense ability that only awaits for them to unlock it.

Edna takes her father to one of the Ratignolle’s grand parties where he is doted upon by all the attendees- particularly Adele, who puts on a coquettish air when talking to him. Edna is aware of it happening, but finds the practice strange, as she herself has never acted in such a way. Though she finds men she meets attractive, she doesn’t put on the same airs that Adele does when she talks to men. Leonce doesn’t enjoy the Ratignolle’s parties, preferring clubs. Adele reproaches the behavior and suggests that if he stayed home more often instead of going out, he and Edna would have a better marriage. Edna shoots down the idea remarking that they’d have nothing to talk about.

Her father’s company entertains Edna, and she feels like she knows him for the first time in her life. She finds amusement in serving him, a behavior that Leonce interprets as an expression of love.

One evening after a day at the racetrack, Mandelet joins Edna, her father and Leonce for dinner at their house. Leonce voices disapproval of their gambling (thinking of the home they lost due to it) and find himself at odds with Edna and her father because of it. Mandelet observes that Edna seems vivacious throughout the meal.

The conversation then moves to storytelling with Mandelet recounting tales of the area’s history. Edna’s father tells grim war stories about his time in the Civil War. Edna makes up a vivid story about lovers getting lost on a boat in the Gulf Coast that enraptures the listeners. She attributes the story to Madame Antoine, but that’s incorrect.

Walking home Mandelet is now sure that Edna is in love with another man, and only hopes that this other man is not Alcee Arobin.

XXIV

Upon learning that Edna will not be attending her sister’s wedding, her father becomes irritated and scolds her for the decision. Leaving, he tells Leonce that the only way to manage a wife is through authority and coercion though it’s these same tactics that Leonce believes killed Edna’s mother. Edna is now glad to see her father go; the man has worn out his welcome and now instead of finding him entertaining; she finds all his little habits- Bible reading, drink mixing, etc.- tiresome.

As Leonce starts off for his long trip to New York to take care of business, Edna finds herself acting darned much like she would expect Adele to. She worries about what he packs, tells him to take care of his health and shows much affection. The children leave as well, Leonce’s mother missing the young boys and taking them to the country home so as to experience a little the same life that Leonce had as a little boy.

Once left alone, Edna finds herself exploring the home as if she has never lived there before. She leaves the duties of taking care of the place to her servants and spends time in the garden, playing with the boys’ dog. Though her family comes to her mind, she enjoys the relative solitude and takes aim to make the best of her time by reading more.

XXV

Edna’s emotions continue to vary to extremes. She feels herself becoming too familiar to the despair-like emotion that she has when she feels her life is unfulfilling. She spends much of her time on the racetrack and is one day asked to join Alcee Arobin and Mrs. Highcamp at the track, where the others discover she is quite knowledgeable in the sport. Mrs. Highcamp uses her daughter as a way to have the company the younger men of New Orleans society, of which Alcee belongs to. Though Edna isn’t fond of Mrs. Highcamp, she majorly enjoys the cheerful disposition of Alcee. Alcee himself has always admired Edna, but only grows an interest in her when they saw each other with Edna’s father present. Alcee accompanies her home and gets her to agree to come to the races with him again. Finishing her dinner, Edna fines herself still energetic and wishes that something would happen; that she would’ve asked Alcee to stay longer.

Some days pass and Alcee invites her to the races again. As Mrs. Highcamp can’t join them, and they can’t find the company of anyone else they’d like along, they spend the time together alone. She lets her guard down with him, which is easy as he has a personable attitude.

That evening at Edna’s house, Alcee shows her a scar he said he acquired from a duel in Paris. Edna holds his arm, where the mark is. The intimacy makes her uncomfortable- even more so as he insists on spending more time with her, kissing her hand as he does so. She apologizes to him if her demeanor has misled him, but he only blames himself for his feelings.

Once she leaves, she feels guilty, not because of her marriage to Leonce, but because she worries she has been unfaithful to Robert.

XXVI

After the incident at her house, Alcee writes Edna a note apologizing for his behavior. Edna is unsure as to whether ignore the note and risk making it seem more serious than it actually was or writing sincerely and give the impression that she had been affected by his kiss. In the end, she decides to give a slightly flippant response that passes the whole thing off as nothing. She writes he is welcome to come over anytime to see her paintings and he does so soon quickly after receiving her letter.

They end up spending quite a lot of time together, with him submitting to her inconstant emotions and conversing with her with candor.

Edna is also spending much time with Reisz. Edna tells the older woman that she is planning to move out of the house, as she has saved up money from winning at the racetrack and saving some from her father’s allowance to her. Reisz is unsurprised, only conversing with Edna in a way that makes the latter reveal her true motivations as to why she wants to move. As it turns out, it’s only a whim that Edna wishes to indulge.

Sometimes, Robert will have sent Reisz a letter, which she shares with Edna; the old woman plays the piano while Edna reads it. This time, Edna discovers that Robert has decided to come back. Thrilled at the prospect, Edna talks to Reisz about the nature of love and why it is that she feels that way about Robert. She finally admits that the emotions she has been having for Robert are actually love.

XXVII

That evening, Alcee comes to spend time with Edna and notices that she is acting differently, though she doesn’t reveal why. As he affectionately strokes her hair, she wonders out loud what kind of woman she is in light of all the social mores she has grown up to know. Though Alcee tries to flatter her, she doesn’t fall for it.

She talks about Reisz and her odd thoughts. She mentions a time when Reisz checked Edna’s shoulders to see if her “wings were strong” enough to fly over prejudice and tradition. Alcee suggests that the woman is demented, but Edna disagrees.

He then kisses her, giving her the first kiss of her life that she truly strongly responds to in a physical way.

XXVIII

That same night, Edna feels a range of emotions- irresponsibility towards her husband; the shock of a new experience; guilt from her love of Robert. What creates the strongest reaction is that the kiss that made her feel that way wasn’t based in love- only in physical desire.

XXIX

Though Edna had written to Leonce about moving out, she decides not to wait for a response and begins to move the day after her kiss with Alcee. Alcee shows up in the midst of the bustle, offering to help a bit. Edna keeps the maid around to make sure they’re not alone together, but he manages to send her away when he requests a cup of water.

Alone, Alcee asks when he’ll have the chance to see her again. Edna tells him to wait until the dinner party she is throwing, and he concedes.

XXX

As Adele and Madame Lebrun are unable to join Edna’s dinner party, a group of ten people meet at her house the night of it. It’s revealed that the night of the dinner is also Edna’s twenty-ninth birthday.

The party guests talk about various things. Reisz gives a poor opinion of the local orchestra. One of the guests tries to tell a dull story that someone pretends to like. Mrs. Highcamp seems disinterested in Victor Lebrun until he starts talking to a younger woman. Monsieur Ratignolle asks Alcee about his family. Through it all though, Edna feels a sense of ennui, as Robert is not there.

At one point, Mrs. Highcamp dresses a tipsy Victor in a wreath and scarf. Asked to sing, Victor begins the same tune that Robert sang when he and Edna returned from the island to Grand Isle during the summer. Edna asks him to stop, breaking her glass in the process as she slams it down for emphasis, but thinking her insincere, Victor continues. Edna gets up and puts her hand over his mouth, which he kisses and then stops singing. The party breaks up and people start heading home.

XXXI

Edna and Alcee lock up the house, and he accompanies her to the new, smaller one. As a surprise, he has sent flowers ahead and had the maid set them up, but Edna makes no remark. Tired, she sits down in a chair. They discuss how the party went and how she feels. As he’s about to leave, he begins caressing her- something that she does not protest.

XXXII

Having received Edna’s letter, Leonce sends a disapproving letter regarding her decision to move out as it may give the impression that the family has lost money. Knowing that Edna has most likely already completed the action, Leonce simultaneously sends for architects to start remodeling his house, providing the perfect cover-up so as not to lose face.

Edna admires her husband’s quick thinking, but does not regret the decision to move out. While the house feels like a drop in social status, it also feels like an expansion of her happiness and self-awareness.

She goes to her mother-in-law’s country home to visit her children. While there she is overjoyed with tears and takes a strong interest in their activities. Once she returns home without them, they slip out of her mind, and she is quite content alone.

XXXIII

Adele comes to visit Edna in her new apartment, whom Edna has not come to see in a long while. Adele notes that Edna seems like a child sometimes, making rash decisions. She points out that perhaps it’s wiser to not spend time with Alcee, as his reputation amongst other men is quite pathetic. That same afternoon she is visited by Mrs. Merriman and Mrs. Highcamp, who invite her to join them at a play. Edna agrees to go, though she doesn’t care much for either of them.

Edna finds herself spending time with Reisz when she wants relief from the day or to talk about Robert. During this particular day, Edna goes to find the house empty. Reisz leaves a hidden key with which to enter, and Edna uses it. She toils around in the garden a bit and then waits for Reisz by the piano. Suddenly, Robert walks in, and it’s revealed that he has been in New Orleans for two days. Edna is disappointed that he didn’t come to see her immediately, and begins to doubt the infatuation she has been harboring all this time.

Their conversation is awkward, with Edna attempting to maintain her composure despite her feelings. She gets up to leave, saying that Reisz won’t likely come back until much later. Robert decides to leave as well and accompanies her home. On their way back, they spot her house in the midst of construction and Leonce points out that he never knew her when she was in her home- Edna notes it was for the better.

Arriving at her apartment, Edna invites Robert to stay for dinner, and he agrees to do so. While looking around he notices a picture of Alcee amongst sketches and papers. He proceeds to ask questions about the picture and his relation to Edna, with Edna explaining that the picture is for a piece she was working on and that he is her acquaintance. She changes the subject back to Robert, asking him what he thought about in Mexico. Robert answers that he was thinking about Grand Isle then asks her what she has been thinking about. Using his exact phrasing, Edna answers that she has been thinking about Grand Isle, as well.

XXXIV

Dinner starts and the pair move to small talk discussing things that have happened while they’ve been apart. Returning from a quick trip to pick up cigarette paper, Robert notices that the coffee is out and offers to leave if he is imposing. Edna assures him that he isn’t, reminding him of all the time they spent at Grand Isle. Here, Robert notes that he has not forgotten anything about their time there.

Packing one of his cigarettes, Robert pulls out a silk tobacco pouch that Edna notes is different than the rubber one he had at Grand Isle. He explains that a girl from Vera Cruz gave it to him, and Edna gently presses questions to him about her. Robert gets nervous and places the pouch back in his pocket just as Alcee comes by.

Alcee has dropped in to tell Edna that the card game with Mrs. Merriman was postponed. Robert greets Alcee and they engage in small talk. Quickly, Robert leaves and bids them farewell. Deciding not to go the card party, Edna writes a note for Alcee to mail on his way out. Alcee assumes they will do something, but Edna tells him that she merely wants to be alone. He leaves her with flattering words, though she takes none of it sincerely.

Alone, Edna thinks over every moment she just spent with Robert and feels jealousy at the thought of the Mexican girl he met there. She also notes that she felt closer to him gone more than now that he is here.

XXXV

The next morning, Edna wakes up more assured of Robert’s love for her. She imagines his daily activities and how he will come later in the evening for dinner like last night. She is convinced that eventually Robert’s reticence will break down, and he will admit his love for her.

She receives three letters: one from her sons describing how they found new piglets at the farm, another from her husband discussing how they’ll go on a trip abroad, and one from Alcee declaring his love for her. She responds to the first two but burns the last.

Robert doesn’t come back to dinner that night, or any night after. The process leaves her sad every night and hopeful every morning. She avoids any of the places she could run into him. After some days, Alcee invites her to a carriage ride, which she takes up. That night she feels no depression and no hope the following morning.

XXXVI

While sitting at a garden cafe in the suburbs that she often goes to, Edna finds that Robert has arrived, as well. Though Edna had decided she would act as indifferently as Robert when she next ran into him, she finds herself unable to. Robert is uncomfortable with the situation, but agrees to stay for dinner. Edna continues to make Robert uncomfortable by confronting him on why he has avoided her, explaining that even if it’s unwomanly, she feels compelled to express her feelings. Robert asks why she is making him tell false excuses. The conversation turns to small talk, and he accompanies her home.

At her small apartment, Edna kisses Robert and they begin to confess their love to one another, Edna describing how Robert woke her from the dull life she had been living. He explains that he went to Mexico as to get away from her, as with her being married only made him realize his love was never to be requited. He mentions that she belongs to Mr. Pontellier and she ridicules the idea that she is owned by anyone.

One of Adele’s servants comes by to say that Edna service is requested, as Adele has gone into labor. Though he doesn’t want her too, Edna leaves Robert and tells him to wait, reassuring him that they’ll be together.

XXXVII

Edna arrives at Adele’s home at the beginning of her labor. The latter is dramatically denouncing the doctor and questioning why everyone has abandoned her. Doctor Mandelet arrives to help Adele and takes the situation as lightly as the nurse, despite Adele’s panic. Edna stays throughout the entire thing and feels uncomfortable at having to remember her own childbirth.

The birth finished, Edna bids Adele farewell by kissing her forehead. While leaning in, Adele- without provocation or context- tells Edna to “think of the children.”

XXXVIII

Dazed from the event, Edna turns down Mandelet’s offer of a ride, choosing instead to walk. Mandelet directs his car to her house to meet him there and accompanies her. She thinks out loud about what Adele said, how it’s better to be awake than asleep but perhaps not at the price of children. Understanding Edna’s jumbled words, Mandelet offers himself as someone that can be trusted, and tells Edna that they can talk of things she never thought she’d talk about.

After Mandelet leaves, Edna stops short of going inside and instead sits on the porch. She lets her negative emotions dissipate as she thinks of Robert and fantasizes about touching him. Though Adele’s words struck her intensely, Edna decides that tomorrow will be the appropriate time to consider the consequences of her action regarding her children.

Upon entering, she finds that Robert is gone, having left only a note that reads “I love you. Good-by- because I love you.” Edna’s heart is broken and lies down on the sofa. She spends the entire night awake.

XXXIX

On Grand Isle, Victor is doing some repairs while flirting with Mariequita and describing the dinner party he attended at Edna’s house. As they talk, Edna herself comes from around the corner, disheveled and dirty. Edna has come by boat to the island with no company and notes that the place seemed “dreary and deserted.” Victor quickly offers her his own room, as it’s the only place ready to house people. Edna asks when dinner will be ready, as she is hungry, and says she would like to take a swim. While both Victor and Mariequita think the idea is foolish as the water is cold, Edna insists and asks them to bring her towels.

Walking to the beach, Edna doesn’t think of anything, as her night spent on the couch was where she had done all the thinking she needed to do. She had thought about how neither Leonce nor Alcee mattered, and that the only person she wanted near her was Robert. She realized that it was inevitable that she would forget Robert and move on, but she also knew that her children were shackling her to a life that she didn’t want. The narrator notes, “she knew a way to elude them.”

Along the way to the shore, the giant sea stretches before her, and she sees a bird with a broken wing floating down towards the water. Instead of changing into her swimsuit, Edna chooses to go naked instead and feels like a new person. She starts swimming out and doesn’t stop nor look back. She thinks about how Robert didn’t understand her nor ever would. Possibly Mandelet would’ve, but it was already too late. She continues to swim- growing ever more tired- and as she recalls childhood memories of the Kentucky meadow of tall grass and the colonel she was infatuated with as a child, she lets the sea embrace her.