With their combined histories of courting the unattainable, Edna and Robert have spent years desiring for the sake of desiring, erecting emotional facades. One of her guest, Gouvernail, makes a reference to desire as "a graven image," as a thing in itself to be worshipped, when he quotes the first two lines from Swinburne's "The Cameo" in response to Victor's splendid appearance at the dinner table. came upon her like an obsession." Is her obsession with Robert himself or with the high drama and emotional intrigue that accompanies her inappropriate love for him? Chopin uses significant word choices in describing Edna's longing, however: "she felt the old ennui.
Yet for all her strength, all the progress she has made in discovering her true self, she is nonetheless unhappy without Robert at her side. As a woman who is taking charge of her life's direction and steering it in an unpopular direction, she is isolating herself from mainstream society - and from those individuals who cannot admit they would like to make the same move. possess." Her power is based on nurturing others Edna's power comes from dedication to pleasing herself. Contrast this queenly image with Chapter 5's description of Madame Ratignolle as having "the grace and majesty which queens. The depiction of Edna at her party as "the regal woman, the one who rules, who looks on, who stands alone" grants her simultaneously command and loneliness, just as one frequently accompanies the other in life. Once inside, Arobin presses his advantage, and they become lovers that night. She is overwrought and miserable, missing Robert and feeling hopeless. The party breaks up soon after.Ĭhapter 31 begins with Arobin helping Edna lock up the mansion and walking her to the pigeon house. When Victor later begins to drunkenly sing the song Robert sang to Edna, "Si tu savais," she is so upset she accidentally breaks her wineglass and then puts her hand over Victor's mouth to make him stop singing.
Despite the party's success, she longs for Robert. Edna announces that it is her twenty-ninth birthday. Highcamp, Monsieur Ratignolle, and a few others. Ten guests show up for Edna's dinner party: Arobin, Mademoiselle Reisz, Victor Lebrun, Mrs.