Comparing the Foils

While reading some of my classmates' blogs I came across one that called my attention since the author has a different perspective than that in terms of Mrs. Pontellier and Madame Ratignolle's Experience. In her post "Rebel at Heart, Mother at Heat", Alejandra compares the women's relationship to one of a mother and daughter since Madame Ratignolle protects her from Robert. I agree with Alejandra in that Adele and Edna are foils and represent completely opposite types of women, but I disagree in that their relationship is one of a mother.daughter relationship.

In chapter eight, Ratignolle has a conversation with Robert in which she tells him that Mrs. Pontellier is not like one of them, therefore she doesn't understand the tricks and dangers in falling for Robert. She then reminds him that she's married and getting involved with her will bring him trouble:

If your attentions to any married women here were ever offered with any intention of being convincing, you would not be the gentleman we all know you to be, and you would be unfit to associate with the wives and daughters of the people who trust you" (pg 46)

According to the previous line, Chopin portrays Ratignolle as a character that is more interested in protecting Robert, since she inf fond of him, and actually feels jealous of the attentions and importance he's placing on Edna.

Further into the novel we find another example that portrays a behavior between Edna and Adele different from a typical mother-daughter one. In chapter XVIII, Edna visits Adele's home in New Orleans, where she has dinner with her and her husband. The two of them exhibit an enviable relationship which, instead of making Edna jealous and sad by comparing her relationship with Leonce with theirs, gives Edna a sense of pity over Adele. Edna feels that Madame Ratignolle's life is vividless and colourness since she lacks the emotion or delirium in life.