Creole Men of The Awakening by Kate Chopin

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In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, the Creole men are as diverse and different as Edna. Kate Chopin’s story centers around a woman, unsatisfied with her life in a man dominated society. The three main male characters resemble typical men of that era. Chopin shows the diversity of each of those three characters- Roberts awakening, and the struggle to do the right thing, Alcee and his carefree and unconcerned attitude towards society's expectations, and Mr. Pontiller, a business man, with little time left for wife and family.

In exploring these three men in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, there are certain aspects of each that are the same. All live in the 1800’s were morale reputation was considered to be the utmost importance to the businessman. Yet, Alcee seems unconcerned with any morale or business responsibility. In exploring the character of Robert, who seems to be at a crossroad in his life, doesn't know weather he should search for his fortune, find a wife, prosper, and be respectable, or do the unthinkable and just follow his heart. But he ends up going to Mexico to work because he knows his love for Edna will always be forbidden.

Mr. Pontellier is the typical Creole husband and businessman. “Leonce is convinced that fulfilling monetary needs excuses the paucity of time he spends with the children, never presuming that some needs cannot be monetarily satisfied: {“He has his hands full with his brokerage business …making a living for his family on the street”(885)} Perhaps because he is aware of his own neglect, Leonce projects his guilt onto Edna, "expecting a flawles mammal performance on her part to remedy his domestic absence.” (Patrsn, Out Of A Convention of Awakening, np) Patterson describes Leonce has having ...

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...a tragic loss. Mr Pontieller will remarry as soon as the proper mourning period has passed because he has his two sons, who need a mother, to think about. Meanwhile Leonce’s mother keeps the boys with her so Leonce can conduct business as usual. Alcee truly misses his friend and mourns her loss for a while. Then his attentions are drawn to some other woman, and Edna is forgotten. Robert takes it the hardest. He truly loved Edna and harbors some guilt for her death. He mourns Edna’s loss and doesn't listen to gossip of mental instability as others talk about her. Robert takes a long time to find another love, but eventually, he finds the love of his life, and only thinks, on occasion, of Edna. Eventually, all the men in Edna's lives move on. Weather they continue to think about her or not, the impact she made on their lives is what makes them the men they are now.

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