The Awakening Ch. 5-9

The plot and characterization thickens in this section as differences between the expectations in Creole society and American society at large are drawn out. In this section, Edna is shown more as the woman from Kentucky when she is contrasted against Madame Ratignolle. Because M.R. (Ratignolle) is thoroughly versed in the mannerisms of Creole society, she exemplifies them to the finest detail and is appalled with the general disregard that Edna gives to the same precepts. It's quite interesting to look at this situation with today's Jerry Springer influenced eye. Today, women having affairs is a daily event. While certainly not inevitable, it has been known to happen. This is in acute contrast to Creole society in which it is taboo and unheard of for a woman to have an affair. I'll get to the point. Edna is so far outside of Creole society, and this distance comes out in this section. I'd also like to say that it seems like a complete fantasy world that the Creoles were living in. It was a paternal, almost stepfordian existence that would truly suck, well, in my opinion at least.