In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, readers are introduced to the harsh, melancholic reality of Mrs. Pontellier’s life in her marriage. Each interaction between them in the first few chapters demonstrates the way that Mr. Pontellier merely views his wife, Edna, as an accessory to his own life rather than a distinct person with her own desires and ambitions. Chopin sets up the dynamic right off the bat. In the first dialogue between the couple, Mr. Pontellier’s concern for his wife is described as being as one would have for a piece of valuable property. Chopin’s choice to present Mr. Pontellier’s thoughts on his wife so explicitly at the very beginning of the novel sets up the story arc with certainty that their relationship is stifling to Edna.
The tension between the couple is further illustrated by the quarrel that the pair has when Mr. Pontellier returns home to see one of his sons is sleeping restlessly. He assumes that the child has a fever. When Edna does not believe him and chooses to remain in bed, he is extremely disappointed with her reaction and speaks to her harshly. While her husband goes right to sleep, Edna is so upset by his harsh words that she stays up crying and sitting on the porch. She describes the depression that takes hold of her as a “vague anguish”. The way her husband treats her is a personal flaw, but he is also a product of societal gender norms. Throughout the novel, his concerns with her are relating to the way that her behavior reflects on him. He lacks the kindness and concern of a lover and imposes on her the standards of a wife of the era.
The pressure of gendered roles and expectations does not come solely from her husband. Edna feels pressured to fit into the molds of two distinct expressions of womanhood. She could choose to maintain her status as a housewife and mother, or follow a more unconventional path through pursuing her desires to a personal awakening. Throughout the novel, Edna begins to follow a path of passionate expression as she acts on her sexual desires. This is the path that she follows to her awakening.