The AWAKENING

Amy! Maude! Spencer!

This is AlcéeThis not only describes

Alcée, but also his role in Creole society. He makes all of the proper

appearances despite the fact , as seen in later slides, that he is sort of looked

down as a womanizer.

• "The afternoon was intensely interesting to her. The excitement came back upon her like a remittent fever. Her talk grew familiar and confidential. It was no labor to become intimate with Arobin. His manner invited easy confidence. The preliminary stage of becoming acquainted was one which he always endeavored to ignore when a pretty and engaging woman was concerned."

"He was a familiar figure at the race course, the opera, the fashionable clubs. There was a perpetual smile in his eyes, which seldom failed to awaken a corresponding cheerfulness in any one who looked into them and listened to his good-humored voice. His manner was quiet, and at times a little insolent. He possessed a good figure, a pleasing face, not overburdened with depth of thought or feeling; and his dress was that of the conventional man of fashion."

“His manner invited easy confidence.” While this means another thing in

context, it shows his influence over Edna.

This is Alcée

He admired Edna extravagantly, after meeting her at the races with her father. He had met her before on other occasions, but she had seemed to him unapproachable until that day. It was at his instigation that Mrs. Highcamp called to ask her to go with them to the Jockey Club to witness the turf event of the season.

He's been interested in Edna from the start, but because

he adheres to his role in society, so that he asks Mrs.

Highcamp to invite her so they can get better

acquainted.

This is Alcée "I hope it isn't Arobin," he muttered to himself as he walked. "I hope to heaven it isn't Alcée Arobin.”

"Alcée Arobin! What on earth is his picture doing here?... Is he a friend of Mr. Pontellier's? You never said you knew him."

"Now if I were like Arobin -- you remember Alcée Arobin and that story of the consul's wife at Biloxi?" And he related the story of Alcée Arobin and the consul's wife..."

' "Well, the reason -- you know how evil-minded the world is -- some one was talking of Alcée Arobin visiting you. Of course, it wouldn't matter if Mr. Arobin had not such a dreadful reputation. Monsieur Ratignolle was telling me that his attentions alone are considered enough to ruin a woman s name."

It’s pretty widely known that Alcée Arobin can’t be trusted with women. His reputation

is so bad that even by associating with him Edna is

being rebellious.

Alcée Has Influence"One of these days," she said, "I'm going to pull myself together for a while and think -- try to determine what character of a woman I am; for, candidly, I don't know. By all the codes which I am acquainted with, I am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can't convince myself that I am. I must think about it.”

• "Don't. What's the use? Why should you bother thinking about it when I can tell you what manner of woman you are.”

When he leaned forward and kissed her, she clasped his head, holding his lips to hers. It was the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded. It was a flaming torch that kindled desire.

Despite the fact that Arobin is a place where Edna is able to be free

and rebel against society, he tries to delay her self-

awakening

Despite his initial words, his affection

towards her leads her to become more

rebellious and aware of what she wants.

Alcée Has Influence

Edna cried a little that night after Arobin left her…There was with her an overwhelming feeling of irresponsibility. There was the shock of the unexpected and the unaccustomed…

There was Robert's reproach making itself felt by a quicker, fiercer, more overpowering love, which had awakened within her toward him.

She’s crying, which is important. She cries when she realizes something about

herself.

Also the pains of awakening.

Arobin helps her realize that she loves Robert

more than she thought she had.

Alcée Has InfluenceAbove all, there was understanding. She felt as if a mist had been lifted from her eyes, enabling her to took upon and comprehend the significance of life, that monster made up of beauty and brutality.

There was a dull pang of regret because it was not the kiss of love which had inflamed her, because it was not love which had held this cup of life to her lips.

Edna feels as if she is seeing clearly for the first time after this affair. She realizes the “significance

of life.”

Arobin is not so much a romantic interest for Edna, but a life line. It is because

of him she is fully awakened, but not out of

love. Just out of need.

Alcée Has InfluenceAlcée Arobin was absolutely nothing to her. Yet his presence, his manners, the warmth of his glances, and above all the touch of his lips upon her hand had acted like a narcotic upon her.

Much to her surprise she received a note from Arobin, written at midnight from the club. It was to say good morning to her, to hope she had slept well, to assure her of his devotion, which he trusted she in some faintest manner returned.

To Arobin's note she made no reply. She put it under Celestine's stove-lid.

Again, his nothingness, but a sort of addiction. She

feels no attachment, and he feels some.

Alcée Has InfluenceWhen Arobin, one night, urged her to drive with him, she went -- out to the lake, on the Shell Road. His horses were full of mettle, and even a little unmanageable. She liked the rapid gait at which they spun along, and the quick, sharp sound of the horses' hoofs on the hard road.

It was late when he left her. It was getting to be more than a passing whim with Arobin to see her and be with her. He had detected the latent sensuality, which unfolded under his delicate sense of her nature's requirements like a torpid, torrid, sensitive blossom.

There was no despondency when she fell asleep that night; nor was there hope when she awoke in the morning.

His horses are almost unmanageable in taking her

where she needs to be. Metaphor for Alcée helping

her to awaken, but the method used to get there is a

little wild, and may lead to part of her inability to cope

with her awakening.

He is a life line that she has, but does not love. It is

through his affection that he survives and through hers that he does. He helps her

get through things, but simply as a tool.

Alcée’s Reaction

While initially surprised and saddened to hear of Edna’s death, Alcée would not be burdened

too much with it. Over time, and a shorter one than many other people, he would come to sort of forget about

Edna. Yes, he would occasionally think of her, and

recall their affair fondly, but her death’s importance on him would not be so great as to

render him inconsolable or desolate to have lost a lover.

He would move on to the next lady and start over again with her.