I wasn’t entirely enthused by the first 15 chapters of Chopin’s The Awakening. It reminded me intensely of Brontë’s work Jane Eyre which lost me in its long descriptions of scenes which often appeared monotonous and unimportant. But, I do appreciate both works for how they will often intentionally subvert my expectations in these scenes, as they are often some of the most meaningful upon a close reading. One such example occurs in Chapter 3 where Pontillier and Mrs. Pontillier have a short argument about their kids. Even in just the first 3 chapters, the relationship between the two characters is relatively apparent: they coexist in a disjointed, partially fragmented marriage. Mr. Pontillier expects Mrs. Pontillier to adhere to a kind of stereotypical womanhood he has witnessed elsewhere, and he expresses this dissatisfaction and frustration with his wife’s character often. Mrs. Pontillier, on the other hand, feels obligated to her husband despite his constant criticism against her. He offers her a luxurious, comfortable life while being perhaps more attentive than most to both her and their children. This obligation is in a battle with her dissatisfaction and frustration on account of his constant criticism against her, which has driven her to sobbing alone and quietly in the dark of her room in Chapter 3. Her husband is revealed not to be a partner, a friend and source of comfort, but a provider and reluctant caretaker, consumed by a preoccupation with his and his wife’s “ideal societal roles”. This exchange particularly reminds me of the “Tradwife” phenomenon appearing on various social media platforms between 2024 and now. While the community it facilitated is likely quite nuanced in their politics and thoughts about themselves, the phenomenon was often successfully co-opted by political and religious ideologies notorious for explicitly reproducing systems and social dynamics which produced marriages like the one between the Pontilliers. In these circles of the movement, strict adherence to past historical gendered marital roles was rewarded by others in the community and adjacent to it, but one can only wonder if the appearances of happy traditional families are all authentic, or if a sinister and grim reality persists beneath the surfaces of many of these traditional families plastered on the internet.
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