Below you will find discussion questions for Chapters 28-35. This assignment is worth 50 points and will be collected tomorrow. You have two options to complete this assignment:
1. Participate in an online discussion. This means not only posting your responses to the questions, but responding to multiple peers.
2. Turn in your written response. Remember to analyze the text, and always answer the "why" question. I expect your responses to reflect an in depth analysis.
Here are the questions you are to answer:
1. How is chp. 28 a defining chapter for Edna? What does it transition to?
2. Pg 116--Describe what the removal of grime might symbolize for Edna? What is she removing it for?
3. Describe Edna's feelings as she is hosting the party. Explain your answer.
4. By Robert's reaction to Alcee's picture, how is he feeling. Explain. Why is he feeling this way?
5. Chapter 35. Why was Edna's encounter so disappointing? Discuss Robert when Alcee came in.
Question one: In chapter 28 Edna edna reflects on her kiss with Arobin, " the first kiss to which her nature had really responded." she realizes all of the responsibility she has undertaken as a wife and mother. she realizes that she will always be captive to this responsibility. she has given her life away. she also realizes that she doesnt want that anymore. she wants what she wants, and that is not Lenoce or the children. she sees that she will never truly be alive as long as she lives this way. it is at this point when Edna finally comes to accords with the emotions she has been struggling to release for the entire book. earlier, she admitted her feelings to Madam Ratignolle and now she admits them to herslf.
ReplyDeleteQuestion three:At first, edna feels a sort of secret excitement. she is going to move after this party. after this, she will be done with her captive life. it fills her up and gives her a shinning energy. she enjopys the friendship with those around her. her emotions take a drastic turn, however, when Victor begins singing the song that Robert sang to her on the boat. she is reminded of Robert and her emotions become muddled. she is sad because he is not there, she is guilty because he is the reason she is moving from her husbands house. she is angry because Victor should not be singing Robert's song. she is embarrassed because she feels Victor is teasing her.
Question two: Edna wanted to get rid of the grime of her od life. she must have felt that it was in some way a bad life, maybe because when she was finally open with herself about her emotions she realized that it wasnt really her, and that change was good.
ReplyDeleteQuestio four: Robert was probably feelin jelous, hurt, and foolish. jelous because he thought Alcee may have stolen edna away from him. hurt because he thought edna left him as soon as he was gone which meant she did not really love him. and foolish for allowing her to convince him she had feeling for him in the summer and for still loving her even when she was hurting him
question five:edna was disappointed because alcee was not robert, whom she wanted, or Leonce, whom she was married to. she was also probably disappointed in herself for actually giving in
1) Chapter 28 is a very overwhelming chapter for both the reader and Edna herself. The endeavour of the kiss with Alcee is alarming on its own, but accompanied by the mixed emotions Edna expresses afterwards take it to a whole new level. The fact that the only regret she feels is that she was not in love for the kiss shows that her life from this point will simply be what she wants when she wants it. 2) Edna has a strong urge now to pursue the things in her life which she is certain of, given the latest occurrences. The lesser of these is her relationship with Alcee, which isn't really a good or bad thing at the moment, merely confusing. Thus, getting it and him out of sight and out of mind will clear her head. 3) At first, Edna feels a sort of accomplishment because all of the arrangements and decorations and happenings of this party were her doing or at least her idea, giving her what she searches for, a sense of entitlement and meaning. Part of her feels guilty because she is using her husband's money and resources without a second thought, but this guilt is covered by her yearn to feel accomplished on her own. 4)Robert reacts to Robert's picture as though he is upset, but from a jealous standpoint. It doesn't seem that he cares much until there is another man in the picture. He was calm and confident when he knew as much affection as could be given to him was, but the complete opposite when there is doubt. He may not necesarilly want Edna as much as he wants Edna's affection. 5) Robert seems angered that Alcee shows such confidence in the fact that Edna shows him attention, causing there to be an awkward frustration in the room. Edna was upset that Robert didn't show more concern and affection for her, and while flattered by Alcee's constant trials, she longs for Robert's tenderness.
ReplyDeleteErin- I agree that Edna realizes that she doesn't want what she has committed to anymore, but i feel like there is still an urge to fight for her newfound passions, whether secretly or openly if it comes down to it.
ReplyDeleteErin- In response to your number 2, i agree that he feels all of those things, but i think it is more out of selfish wants than for actual feelings. He doesn't seem to be as upset that she isn't fully committed to him, seeing as how Leonce kept this from bothering him in the first place, but more that she doesn't seem to want him at all. He doesn't necesarily want her, just her heart.
Question One: Throughout the novel, Edna has felt tied down by everything in her life. It is in her emotional reflection during chapter 28 that she has the "awakening" of which the book is titled. She decides that she is going to do what she needs to do to get what she wants. She finally feels like she controls her own destiny. This is the beginning of the transition into her own self-destruction; a snowball effect of her desperately reaching for her desires.
ReplyDeleteQuestion Two: Edna's "grime" is the entrapment that she feels in her life and the unhappiness that it brings her. The removal of it may refer to her new found purpose and desire to take control of her life. She is ridding herself of what she sees and grime, and trying to acquire what she thinks will make her happy.
Question Three: Edna is very conflicted as she hosts the party because while she is there physically, her mind is completely elsewhere. Robert dominates her thoughts no matter where she is or what she is doing, and her emotional unbalance leads to an abrupt end to the party. Ever since she has decided to pursue her desires, everything else in her life has been put on the backburner.
Question Four: Robert is finally feeling that Edna may feel the same way that he does, but then the picture introduces the possibility that she is interested in another man as well. It is the natural jealousy that comes with the situation, but it is further reinforced by Edna's previous lack of feeling for him.
Question Five: The majority of the novel, Edna has been building up a fantasy in her mind concerning Robert and his return. She has fabricated such a perfect scenario that when there is some uncomfortable tension upon his return, it ruins the whole encounter for her. She cannot help but picture him with a girl from Mexico and it causes her to be very depressed.
@Erin's Question One - I agree with your ending statement about her finally admitting her feelings to herself, but I think it is even more than that. Not only has she convinced herself of how she feels, but she has decided that she is going to do something about it, taking initiative which she has never really done.
ReplyDelete@Joel's Question Three - I agree that a recurring thought of Edna's is the guilty feeling as she looks at all that Leonce has provided for her. I think that she really wants to be in love with Leonce, but in reality she isn't and she chases her desires, specifically for Robert.
1-Throughout this chapter Edna reflects inwardly on her emotions and on the kiss she shared with Alcee. She feels disappointed; disappointed only that she did not share that kiss with Robert instead. She is also disappointed that the kiss was not motivated by love. At this point she is having a lot of mixed feelings, but I believe she, for the first time, is starting to feel freedom. On the other hand, she still has that weight of being tied down by her husband and children, feeling as if she'll never be able to break free from it. This chapter is defining because it marks her transition from mother and wife, to becoming a free woman. 2-I believe the "removal of the grime" is symbolizing the transition I previously spoke of. Since her husband and children are not with her, she has a new found sense of freedom, thus removing the grime of her previous lifestyle. She was feeling tied down with the monotony and boredom she felt with her family. The grime was the emotion she had been experiencing in her everyday life. The "removal of the grime" is symbolizing her forgetting and moving on from her old lifestyle. I believe she is removing it because she now realizes that she is truly independent, thinking her own thoughts and feeling her own emotions. She wants to finally be her own person. 3-All of Edna's emotions during the party are good ones. She is feeling a sense of excitement because she will be moving to her new house after the party. It seems as if her normal distraught feelings have left her. She is constantly upbeat and happy. The only thing that brings her night down is when Victor sings a song that reminds her of Robert. She snaps at him, and the party ends on what I thought to be a bad note. 4-The way Robert responds to the picture of Alcee makes me believe he is possibly experiencing a couple of different emotions. I think the main emotion he is feeling is one of serious jealousy. He must be feeling as if he has lost Edna to Alcee during his time in Mexico. Also, I believe he is feeling stupid for ever leaving in the first place, honestly regretting he ever made that choice. He wants Edna and he thinks he has lost her. 5-Edna is disappointed because though she likes and is flattered by Alcee's constant attempts to impress her and recieve her attention, she is always longing for Robert's attention. Her mind is always on him. It is also disappointing to her because she is also thinking of and writing to her children.
ReplyDeleteTo Ryan's #1-I think through your response that you felt the exact same that I did about Chapter 28, except you said it smoother than I did. The idea that this is the Awakening the book is named after is really smart. I would never have thought of that, but I'm sure it's true. Overall, I agree completely with your thoughts on that question.
ReplyDeleteTo Erin's #2-I think I agree with your general thoughts on Edna's feelings, I just don't agree with the fact that you think she thinks her old life is bad. Sorry, confusing sentence. I just think she was utterly sick of it and wanted to become her own person, so when she got the chance she jumped on it.
Chapter 28 is a defining chapter for Edna because of several different reasons. One of these reasons is Edna despite being still married kisses Alcee. She does this only on instinct rather than thinking about it, sadly this defines her for the rest of the book. She expresses that she does not feel sorry for kissing him but rather she feels that she sorry for kissing him without love. She also confesses how her feelings of love for Robert have become more and more intense. This defines Edna’s true character, which is unfaithful with her husband often gravitating to other men. This transition to the unveiling of Edna’s true character which is a female that is only looking for the support of other males, and that is also very unfaithful. She shows this through now how she has felt and acted this way around two men now. The grime that Edna is referring to on pg 116 is symbolizing the relationship she has with her family and Leonce. One can tell this because as she is slowly morphing into a new woman the only way that she is capable of doing is by removing her family ties which here she calls “grime.” She needs to remove it because she needs to put on a new mask. When Edna at first hosts the party she is very excited about the party and all the guests that are coming to celebrate her moving. She starts out very content however when she hears Victor sing the song she flips out because it brings back bad memories in her stage of shock she smashes her cup and she ends a little miffed. However it cools down as the night goes on until when she is left alone with Alcee and her passion at that point flares and they continue to do heavy flirting. When Robert sees the picture he is discontented. He feels instantly feelings of jealousy and confusion when he sees that Edna has moved on from him. This makes him upset. He feels this way because while on Grand Isle he had formed feelings for Edna and that’s why he left for Mexico so quickly thus the picture upsets him because someone else is in Edna’s life. Edna is disappointed in chapter 35 because Robert will not come visit her anymore. She waits every morning hoping he will visit but he never does. When Robert was visiting and Alcee came by Robert became very unhappy and responded quite cold like soon left because he could not take it.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ryan- Ryan brings up many great points about how the title of the book and chapter 28 coninside also I agreed with his snowball effect anaoloy it is a good descrption. I also like his analysis of the character's emotional states that they are in and also I thnik he does a good job summerizing the plot while revealing its purpose.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Erin- Erin talks of Edna's discontentment with how she is attached to a family and how she has to mend her relationship with them so she treats all this boyfriends of hers as experiments and thus this helps the her cope even though like Ryan said it will eventually lead to her distruction.I also approove of her view of the "grime" on Edna's face and her views about how Robert felt when he saw the picture. Also I agree with her views of Edna's disscontentment of the why she does not like where she is at right now.
Question 1
ReplyDeleteChapter 28 is an important chapter because Edna claims to understand her own thoughts. She realized her husband flattered her because of the possessions he gave to her, that her feelings for Alcee were only physical, and that her feelings for Robert were love. This is when she is able to start a new life and leave Mr. Pontieller along with the gifts she received from him, and begin again where nothing could hold her back.
Question 2
Edna's removal of the "grime" refers to her cleaning herself from the past. She throws away the old Edna and sets up a desirable course for the new one. She does not want to be stuck in the past and feel trapped as she always had, but is willing to forget that life and step into a new one.
Question 3
Edna feels as if she is finally in control of her own life. "There was something in her attitude... which suggested the regal woman, the one who rules, who looks on, who stands alone" (119). In the beginning of the novel the reader notices that Edna prefers time alone, and now she finally has what she wants. It is like a feeling of great victory, however it is built on unstable ground and deep inside, I believe Edna knows she is thriving off of those little victories in stead of finding a solid and concrete reason to be content. I believe this is a foreshadow of how Edna's reliability on her emotions will be lead to her destruction.
Question 4
Robert is surprised at first that Edna has a picture of Alcee. Him and Edna begin to share the same feelings, however, of jealousy. They are in love, the reader can tell by both of their reactions when they first see each other, but after Robert sees the picture he becomes a bit more quiet. When Edna finds out about the woman in Mexico she too becomes jealous but handles it in a more talkative manner.
Question 5
Edna was expecting Robert to write her letters and inform her when he got back into town, but he never did either. She even learns that he was in town for more than one day. She thinks that he was making up excuses to not be with her or continue the relationship they had in the summer. As i stated before, they both tend to handle situations differently and Robert handles himself by trying to escape the pain or not talking. That is why he left when Alcee came over. His fear seems to come to life when he sees how well he gets along with Edna. But Edna sees his reactions in a different light and thinks he is making excuses and does not want to spend time with her as they had before.
Ryan's connection of chapter 28 to the title is a very good way to explain the importance of chapter 28. It is like Edna's "Awakening" moment when she erases the night mares and starts on a new day. When compared to Erin's outlook on it, I feel as though those "responsibilities" are what she is trying to erase. While Mark includes the "feelings" that Edna decides to act upon. The real defining moment is that Edna decides to follow her feelings rather than her responsibilities that she has been tied down to for so long.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Joel's question 2, i agree that she is beginning to, "pursue the things in her life which she is certain of." She is certain of her feelings, she established that in chapter 28, but she does not know where they will take her. As i stated before i believe it is a foreshadow to her destruction, because she knows she is playing with fate but does not want the responsibility of dealing with it. however i do not agree that she feels guilty because she is using her husband's money. She does not seem to mind taking any extreme to get out of her past life.
Question 1: Up until now, Edna seems as if she hasn't known what to do with her life. Her reflection in chapter 28 is about her putting her foot down and taking a stance toward what she wants in life. In this chapter, she finally gets the nerve to put what she wants above everything else and she's willing to do anything to get it. This is her transition into becoming a person that is bound by nothing.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: Just as any other person may describe this, Edna's Grime is what's been holding her back. In this case, it was her unwillingness to take control of her life and the way she felt. The removal of this 'grime' is getting rid of the weight that's been on her shoulders up until this point in the novel. Getting rid of the grime is getting rid of all the negative feelings and things she has encountered.
Question 3: As Edna hosts the party, her head is in the clouds thinking of Robert the entire time. Because she doesn't know what she wants as of yet, ultimately, her emotion crashes the party. By her prioritizing her pursuit of happiness, she has left everything else behind not giving a care in the world about it.
Question 4: Robert was probably feeling as if any other guy in this situation would feel, hurt. Guys: if you had seen this picture after having feelings for a girl, wouldn't you feel the same way, especially if you had put so much thought and some effort into making something happen? Same with the girls sometimes... This goes off of the 'not getting your hopes too high' saying.
Question 5: Edna is disappointed because even though Alcee uses every chance he gets to flatter her, in the back of her mind all she wants is Robert even though he doesn't show as much affection and want for her. Robert probably felt shunned when Alcee showed up most likely because he knows in the back of HIS mind that he hasn't given Edna the attention she has wanted and some other guy has, making him feel as if Alcee has taken Edna from him
Response to Ryans question 1: You stating this as a snowball effect was the perfect response to this question. It did ultimately bring everything else in her life down, and now she needs to try and fix things somehow.
Response to Erins Question 5: I'm not really following you when you say "giving in." Giving in to what? If this discussion continues in the following days, please clarify.
Response to Mark's Question 2: I wouldn't necessarily consider her new side a 'mask,' but rather a new person as a whole, not hiding their true identity from anyone else. I believe that Edna has had this side with her her entire life so it wouldn't really be a mask to cover something up.
To add on to my response to mark: Don't you think? Since she finally figures out what she wants, this must've been who she truly was forever but just didn't know it.
ReplyDeleteIn response to mark: I agree with what you say about the grime being the family ties. these ties have held her down her whole life and she has just not discovered that she can break them, as evidenced by her refusal to attend janets wedding. however, i think that she does not want to put on a new mask so much as show her real face, or what she thinks is her real face.
ReplyDeletein response to ryan: edna is often in two different places, physically through out much of the novel she is in a place she does not want to be, tied down to family and responsibility. menatly, she is free, with robert, and able to make her own decisions, descisions she is comfortable with. in her mental place, she does not answer to anyone but heself