Summary Edna still cannot work on her art on gloomy days, so she spends rainy days either at home moping or seeking solace by visiting friends. She spends more time at the racetrack with Arobin and Mrs. Highcamp. Her increasingly bold, vivacious personality attracts Arobin. One afternoon he picks her […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 25Summary and Analysis Chapter 24
Summary Edna is glad when her father’s visit is over, tired of arguing with him over her refusal to attend her sister’s wedding. Leonce leaves as well, for an extended business trip to New York, while the boys leave for their grandmother’s. Edna revels in her first taste of independent […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 24Summary and Analysis Chapter 23
Summary Edna’s father, the Colonel, comes to visit. They spend time at the racetrack, where they socialize with Mrs. Merriman, Mrs. Highcamp, and Alcee Arobin. Dr. Mandelet comes to dinner one night and is alarmed by Edna’s high-spirited recollection of their day at the races — he fears she is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 23Summary and Analysis Chapter 22
Summary Leonce visits an old family friend, Dr. Mandelet, seeking advice about Edna. Leonce reveals that she has abandoned her domestic and social duties, become moody, and has stopped having sex with him. Further, Edna is refusing to attend her sister’s wedding, asserting that a wedding is a highly regrettable […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 22Summary and Analysis Chapter 21
Summary Edna visits Mademoiselle Reisz, who is delighted to see her. She tells Edna she has received a letter from Robert in which he spoke constantly of Edna and asked Mademoiselle Reisz to play Chopin’s “Impromptu” for her. Edna convinces Mademoiselle Reisz to allow her to read Robert’s letter. She […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 21Summary and Analysis Chapter 20
Summary In one of her dark moods, Edna decides to visit Mademoiselle Reisz. She cannot find her address, so in an effort to track her down, she goes to her last known address and then thinks to visit Madame Lebrun. There Edna learns that Robert has sent his mother two […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 20Summary and Analysis Chapter 19
Summary Edna moves into full-fledged rebellion. She abandons all social and household duties, spending time instead painting in a small studio she’s set up on the top floor of their house. As she paints, she mentally recalls the details of her time with Robert and sings the song “si tu […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 19Summary and Analysis Chapter 18
Summary The next day, feeling as if all elements of her environment have become hostile, Edna retreats into an examination of some of her old sketches. She takes a few of the better ones to show Madame Ratignolle, who encourages her plan to study drawing with a teacher named Laidpore. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 18Summary and Analysis Chapter 17
Summary A few weeks after their return to New Orleans for the winter, Edna decides to be out of the house on her reception day — the one day of the week when custom demands that she stay at home to receive social callers. Leonce is incensed, insisting that her […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 17Summary and Analysis Chapter 16
Summary After Robert’s departure, Edna tries to assuage her longing for him by spending more time with Madame Lebrun and inducing others, including Leonce, into conversation about Robert. She experiences no guilt about her feelings for Robert — or about getting her husband to talk about him — because she […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 16