The Role Of Food In The Awakening
Edna Pontellier is a typical New Orleans woman whose domestic life is normal for wealthy families. Her roles as mother and housewife are both typical of Victorian society’s expectations. Edna is driven by her desire to be independent and self-possessed, despite her unhappy marriage. Edna is driven to action by passion, love, and a new sense for herself. It is this scandalous affair that explains her decision break all the rules of her time. Reading Edna’s story through symbols will lead you to discover its deeper meaning. Chopin makes food a prominent symbol. It is Edna’s transformation from a obedient mom and housewife to becoming self-sufficient.
Chopin uses food to build acts Edna feels obligated. While Mr. Pontellier travels to New Orleans on business, Edna receives a basket filled with sweets, wines, pates, syrups, and fresh fruit. Edna’s lady friends comment on the wonderful husband Pontellier, exclaiming that they are “the best husbands in the world”(7). Edna agrees with her friends that Mr. Pontellier is a better husband because of the gift basket. Edna uses food to express the anger she feels at the present. Edna views the bon-bons or syrups as reminders that her stereotypical submissive femininity is reinforced by her willingness to accept her husbands gift of “unique” and to cater to his every desire in return. The Pontellier’s masculine and obtuse personality is also illustrated through food. Edna’s husband has certain traits that make her subservient until she is able to resist his domineering tendencies. Edna declares in authority that she prefers to be outside to spend the night with Mr. Pontellier. He then pours himself some wine to soothe his wife and to forget her rejection. She rejects him offering her a glass to show his disapproval. It is clear that Pontellier still enjoys drinking wine and smoking cigars, which reflects his need to feel dominant, masculine, and in control. Edna’s refusal of her husband to apologize represents her anger at his emotional negligence, and her move towards an independent lifestyle.
Similar to Mr. Pontellier symbolically “masculine”, food is used as a way to show his control issues and disapproval for his wife’s rebellion. Edna’s transition to an “insubordinate” lifestyle is illustrated by her decision not to entertain her husband but instead go out for lunch. The couple sit down for dinner and Mr. Pontellier is dissatisfied with the meal and complains about Edna (50-52). Edna is fed up by her husband’s discontentment with his meal and his wife. Edna would be too upset to finish her dinner had Mr. Pontellier not left his wife. Edna this time decides to stay with him and finish the meal. This meal is Edna’s growing willingness to disregard her husband’s needs and pursue her own desires.
Edna develops a sense of liberation as she becomes more comfortable with eating unaccompanied. In previous chapters, she was angry about the idea that she would eat alone and annoyed by her husband’s disregard for her. Edna tells her cooks that she won’t need as much food because she’s the only one home after Mr. Pontellier has left. Soon she begins to enjoy cooking alone. This underscores the significance food has in The Awakening. Meals are Edna’s symbolic escape from her domestic duties (72). Chopin praises Mrs. Pontellier by describing her private meals as “luscious tenderloin braised a point” (73) along with the exquisite taste of the wine. Edna now enjoys dining alone and is more accepting of it. This is a sign of her character’s obvious change. Edna finds herself becoming more relaxed as her story unfolds. Raoul’s letter arrives one morning and Edna decides that she will eat her breakfast undressed (104) which is something she would not do if she were still at her home with her children, husband, and servants. Mrs. Pontellier’s laid-back, new attitude gives her self-confidence and the confidence to become the woman she dreams of being.
Edna’s dinner at the Highcamps and Arobin after the races appears to have brought back her submissive past. Edna feels like she has to engage in conversation even though it is dull. She realizes that her Highcamps meal was too small and she’s hungry so she decides to go home and eat gruyere cheese, crackers and a beer (75). Although she doesn’t do this to defy any particular person, it is an explicit defiance of cultural norms. Drinking beer was considered a highly inappropriate behavior for women at the time. Edna realizes that beer is often associated with masculinity and feels empowered. She can now grant her husband the same freedoms she enjoys.
Edna consumes alcohol in Mademoiselle Reisz’s home one more time. When she is offered brandy, she chooses to consume the liquor in a glass just like a man would (79). This recalls Edna’s drinking of beer earlier in her story and reinforces its symbolic meaning. Edna’s willingness again to drink beer or brandy, suggests her desire for freedom.
Edna continues on her journey to self-discovery after she finds a New Orleans garden. She finds tranquility, peace, and privacy away from her daily worries. Mrs. Pontellier says that no one can make such great coffee or fry chicken so perfectly as she, the owner of the small garden store. Edna visits the small store twice a weeks to eat dinner alone (105). Mrs. Pontellier is driven to eat alone and break all social norms. Robert unexpectedly visits Edna’s private place. She offers to share her dinner with him. It almost feels like she’s letting Robert have her food. She is uncomfortable in his presence and has an overwhelming desire for him to be happy. This scene reminds Edna of her earlier desire to please husband in line with society expectations. Edna worries about Robert’s feelings as they discuss his recent separation. She apologizes to Robert for raising such personal topics and takes responsibility for Robert’s refusal (105). She believes Robert’s unwillingness or inability to eat is evidence that she has upset Robert by her comments. She changes the subject immediately to spare him further distress. Edna uses food as a symbol for Robert’s inability or willingness to eat.
Chopin’s detailed descriptions and explanations of meals and meal times represent Edna’s transformation as a housewife and mother to a free-thinking, strong woman. Edna’s struggle to free herself from oppressive social norms is reflected in her attitude toward food. A superficial reading might overlook the importance, but a closer analysis will reveal that Edna is able to make a personal revolution through her attitude towards food.