The society and inhabitants of Grand Isle place high expectations on women to belong to their men and be secondary to their children. In the dramatic novel The Awakening, Kate Chopin tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman who throughout the story tries to find herself using various different methods until her untimely death. Kate Chopin tries to make women seem more like possessions than people. Edna Pontellier's society, therefore, flourishes with "women-mothers," who "idolatized their children, adored their husbands, and considered it a sacred privilege to efface themselves as individuals" (12). Throughout the story, Chopin presents a contrast in his male characters. He describes Leonce as a good husband capable of great things but oblivious to his wife's needs. Alcee Arobin as a mark who recognizes Edna's physical (animalistic) needs in a relationship, and Robert as a sensitive male who understands Edna's thoughts and feelings but also realizes that he cannot have Edna because she is one of Leonce's possessions , thus leaving him in difficulty. crossroads. Throughout the book men have a lasting effect on Edna, controlling her and preventing her from gaining the independence she tries so hard to achieve. Leonce Pontellier is the typical Creole man and husband one might find in this period. She believes that women should work and live only for the well-being of their family. "He reproached his wife for her inattention, her habitual negligence towards the children. If it wasn't the mother's job to take care of the children, who the hell was it? He himself was busy with his intermediation activity" (77) Leonzio thought of himself as a great husband, but being the male who wants it... middle of paper... different. Similar to the heroine, the story has a tragic ending for the main characters. Leonce is the least affected by Edna's death because he has too many other things to worry about, such as his children and his business. Alcee will certainly miss Edna, but it is believed that soon his attention will focus on a new female, and Edna will be forgotten. Robert will take her suicide harder, because he truly loved her. He will believe that he was the reason for her death and will feel guilty and cry longer. He was the most compassionate and loving male in this book and when Kate Chopin was writing The Awakening, she wanted more males to become more like Robert and have the same principles and standards. Robert is the person men should look up to. Kate Chopin shows diversity in her main 3, as they are typical men of this era.