The Awakening Lesson Plan

How does Mr. Pontellier try to demonstrate his investment in and love for Edna? What does her response indicate about the differences in their ways of expressing emotion or love?

Léonce Pontellier seems to genuinely love his wife, in his own way. The narrator says as much in describing Mr. Pontelleir's thoughts and feelings, and he regularly tries to buy Mrs. Pontellier gifts and do nice things for her to show his affection. However, Edna does not show much appreciation for Léonce's gestures. It's not that she doesn't care for him in return, it's simply that her feelings for him are not that passionate. In fact, the narrator explains in Chapter VII that Edna essentially...