The Awakening

Léonce Pontellier is Edna’s 40-year-old husband and an affluent New Orleans businessman. Although he is loving and devoted, he is not emotionally invested in his marriage and spends little time with his family because he is rarely home: when he is not on business trips, he is socializing with his friends. Social appearances are a priority for Léonce and he is much more concerned with Edna’s displays of her transformations than with the transformations themselves. He has very little insight concerning his wife’s true feelings and emotions and is ignorant of her newfound self-awareness.

Robert Lebrun is a charismatic 26-year-old man who falls in love with Edna during her summer at Grand Isle. He has a history of maintaining multiple mock romances with unattainable women, and thus his attention is never taken seriously. As he becomes Edna’s devoted attendant and the two spend more time together, he realizes that his feelings for Edna are sincere. He is torn between his desire to be with Edna and the realization that social constraints prevent him from acting on his love. Despite his genuine love, Robert, unlike Edna, cannot ignore the long-established social rules and sees women as the possessions of their husbands.

Adèle Ratignolle is Edna’s close friend and an embodiment of womanly grace and charm—a representative of an ideal Victorian woman. The epitome of the “mother-woman,” she prioritizes the happiness of her children and her husband above personal happiness. Adèle sees the sole purpose of a woman’s life as serving her husband and children, and she happily and willingly centers her life on her family and performing domestic duties. Adèle, in contrast to Edna, is a static character; she shows no change from the beginning to the end of the novel. Yet it is her, with her frank manner of expression, who unknowingly catalyzes Edna’s transformation. While Adèle’s lifestyle runs counter to Edna’s increasing independence, her unreserved speech has a more powerful influence on Edna.

Mademoiselle Reisz is a gifted pianist and Edna’s friend. She dedicates her life to her music, and she doesn’t have a family. Reisz is an exemplification of independence and serves as a role model during Edna’s transformation. Although in the beginning of the novel the women are not very close, since Mademoiselle Reisz has a reputation of being a bitter and reserved woman, Edna seeks her companionship more and more as she strives for her own independence. Mademoiselle Reisz is an example of who Edna could have become if she were to keep her independence and pursue her art. Reisz also demonstrates that although one can break social norms and live independently and self-sufficiently, it inevitably leads to isolation and solitude.

Alcée Arobin is a charming and seductive ladies’ man known in New Orleans for his multiple love affairs. While Edna’s husband is away on a business trip, Alcée becomes her lover. Even though Edna does not feel a strong emotional attachment to Alcée, he satisfies her awakened, animalistic urges.

Doctor Mandelet is the family physician of the Pontellier family. Léonce consults Mandalet about Edna’s strange behavior. Wise and insightful, he suspects that Edna is in love with another man, but he does not reveal this to Léonce since he realizes that if this is the case, Léonce’s constraint will only intensify her rebellion. He realizes that Edna no longer wants to adhere to restrictions imposed on her by society and, realizing the consequences that her independence might have, sympathetically offers Edna his help.

The Colonel is a retired Confederate officer in the Civil War and Edna’s father. He believes that the only way for husbands to manage their wives is with authority and strict control. Although Edna is not close with her father, she is surprised to see how well they get along.

The lady in black is an elderly vacationer on Grand Isle. She epitomizes the solitude and self-denial that is expected from a woman whose husband has died. Unlike Edna’s solitude, her solitude is not associated with independence, but rather with isolation and a voluntary withdrawal from life.

The two lovers are a couple vacationing on Grand Isle. They symbolize a young love accepted by society, one which contrasts with the form of love that follows a marriage. They signify a romantic stage in a woman’s life that precedes getting married.

Monsieur Ratignolle is Adèle’s husband. He is an affluent and wealthy pharmacist.

Madame Lebrun is the mother of Robert and Victor. She is a widow and an owner of the cottages on Grand Isle.

Victor Lebrun is Robert’s younger brother. Although he is spoiled and strong-willed, his handsome looks make him popular among women.

Mariequita is a young flirtatious Spanish girl and a local on Grand Isle. She seems to like both Lebrun brothers and is the epitome of a coquette.

Etienne and Raoul Pontellier are Edna and Léonce’s sons. Etienne is 4 and Raoul is 5.

Janet is Edna’s younger sister. Edna refuses to attend Janet’s wedding because of her contempt for marriages. Margaret is Edna’s older sister; she took care of Edna and Janet after their mother had died.

The Farival Twins are 14-year-old girls who often play the piano for Madame Lebrun’s guests. They symbolize chaste motherhood—the destiny that all Victorian girls are expected to fulfill.

Mrs. Highcamp is a tall beautiful woman in her forties. Under the pretext of looking for a husband for her daughter, she spends most of her time at New Orleans social gatherings in the company of single men, Arobin being one of them. Mrs. Highcamp and Arobin urge Edna to spend more time with them, and finally, this leads to Edna’s affair with Arobin.

Madame Antoine is a local on the island of Chênière Caminada, where Grand Isle residents often go to attend Sunday mass. One Sunday, when Edna feels faint at the church service, Madame Antoine lets Edna into her home and takes care of her, providing her with a room and food.