Character vs. Characterisation with reference to Edna Pontellier in The Awakening
In literary studies, the terms character and characterisation are closely related but fundamentally different. A clear understanding of this distinction is essential for analyzing novels and plays. In Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening, the protagonist Edna Pontellier is a powerful example of how character is created and revealed through characterisation.
Character: the “what”
A character is the person (or figure) who takes part in the events of a story. It refers to who someone is in the fictional world. A character includes traits such as personality, beliefs, emotions, motivations, and moral values. For example, Edna Pontellier is a married woman, a mother of two children, and a member of the upper-class Creole society of Louisiana. These basic facts define her as a character in the novel.
However, simply knowing that Edna is a wife and mother does not fully explain her inner life or complexity. The idea of character is therefore static in definition—it is the constructed identity of a fictional person.
Characterisation: the “how”
Characterisation, on the other hand, refers to the methods and techniques used by the author to present and develop a character. It answers the question: How do we come to know the character? Characterisation includes description, dialogue, actions, thoughts, relationships, and the reactions of other characters.
In The Awakening, Kate Chopin uses both direct and indirect characterisation to shape Edna Pontellier into a complex, evolving figure.
Edna Pontellier: Through Characterisation
At the beginning of the novel, Edna appears as a conventional woman in a rigid society. Through direct characterisation, Chopin shows her as a somewhat detached mother who does not fully conform to the expected emotional warmth of motherhood. Her husband, Léonce Pontellier, often judges her behavior, and through his observations, readers initially see her as a woman who does not fully fit the ideal of domestic perfection.
However, it is through indirect characterisation that Edna becomes deeply significant. Her actions, thoughts, and emotional responses gradually reveal her inner conflict.
One of the most important aspects of Edna’s characterisation is her awakening consciousness. Her experiences at Grand Isle, particularly her relationship with Robert Lebrun, awaken in her a sense of emotional and personal desire that contradicts her role as a dutiful wife. Chopin does not explicitly state Edna’s transformation; instead, she shows it through Edna’s increasing emotional independence and dissatisfaction with her life.
Emotional and Psychological Characterisation
Edna’s psychological depth is revealed through her thoughts and inner reflections. Chopin uses a stream-of-consciousness-like technique in certain passages, allowing readers to enter Edna’s mind. We see her growing awareness that her life lacks personal freedom. This internal focus is a key method of characterisation, as it builds Edna not as a stereotype but as a deeply individual human being.
Her visits to the sea are another important example. The sea is symbolic of freedom, and Edna’s attraction to it reflects her desire to escape social constraints. Instead of telling readers directly that Edna wants freedom, Chopin uses symbolic and emotional associations to reveal it.
Characterisation through Actions and Choices
Edna’s character becomes clearer through her actions. She begins to resist social expectations: she neglects her domestic duties, moves out of her husband’s house into a “pigeon house,” and explores her independence financially and emotionally.
These actions are crucial to understanding her characterisation. They show that Edna is not simply passive; she is actively questioning her role in society. Her decisions reflect a growing self-awareness and a refusal to conform.
Characterisation through Relationships
Edna’s relationships also play an important role in her characterisation. Her marriage to Léonce Pontellier highlights the limitations placed on women in 19th-century society. Léonce treats her as a possession rather than an equal partner, which intensifies Edna’s desire for independence.
Her friendship with Mademoiselle Reisz, an independent pianist, further shapes her development. Reisz serves as a contrast to Edna’s earlier life, representing artistic freedom and individuality. Through this relationship, Chopin indirectly deepens Edna’s longing for autonomy.
Symbolic Characterisation
Kate Chopin also uses symbolism to characterise Edna. The sea, birds, and art are recurring symbols linked with her emotional journey. The image of a bird struggling to escape its cage symbolizes Edna’s condition as a woman trapped in societal expectations. These symbols are not direct statements about Edna’s personality but powerful tools of characterisation that allow readers to interpret her inner life.
Character vs. Characterisation Summarised through Edna
Thus, in the case of Edna Pontellier:
- Character refers to Edna as a fictional individual: a wife, mother, and woman living in Creole society.
- Characterisation refers to how Kate Chopin reveals Edna’s evolving identity through actions, thoughts, dialogue, symbolism, and relationships.
Without characterisation, Edna would remain a simple outline. Through characterisation, she becomes a complex, psychologically rich figure who challenges social norms.
Conclusion
In The Awakening, Kate Chopin’s brilliance lies in her subtle and layered characterisation of Edna Pontellier. The distinction between character and characterisation helps us understand that Edna is not merely a “type” of woman but a carefully constructed psychological portrait. Through indirect methods such as symbolism, internal conflict, and relational dynamics, Chopin transforms Edna into one of the most memorable figures in modern literature.
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