Appearance in “The Awakening”

As I began to read the assigned pages for today’s class the first thing that stood out to me was the extreme detail that the author described both Edna and Adele. It immediately reminded me of our discussion of the “new woman” and how she was depicted. Edna was described as lean and “handsome” rather than beautiful, while Adele was fair with red “pouty” lips and a body that was a “little stout” after having her three children. Adele was an exemplary mother and her main concern is her children, while Edna felt pangs of guilt that she did not miss her children that much when they were gone, but rather found it relieving. Edna exemplified the “new woman” who was often seen as more masculine, slender, and handsome. This can also tie to her inability to be what her husband considers a perfect mother. One quote that I found striking and a bit sarcastic coming from Edna was when she said “They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.” Edna is blatantly mocking the fact that although she isn’t the perfect mother she has her own autonomy and self worth, which becomes a constant struggle throughout the rest of this passage.