The Awakening: Quote 6

“The house, the money that provides for it, are not mine. Isn’t that enough reason?” Page 85

Here, Edna is talking to Mademoiselle Reisz about her reasons for moving out of the big house, while Leonce is away on business. Edna wants to own her own belongings; she wants to claim things as her own. She no longer wants the label of being Leonce Pontellier’s wife; she completely wants to rid his name from being attached to hers. A good way for her to do this is to buy her own house and move out from being with him, although she isn’t trying to get rid of him, or make a statement that she no longer wants to be with him, she only wants to accomplish her own things. This is an important part of her break away from the stereotype of a normal mothering woman, because she is no longer going to be known as Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier. By purchasing her own house she claims her independence.