Who? What? Why?

After the reader is quite sure that he has discovered what Mrs. Pontellier is up to, and prides himself in recognizing what the awakening means for the character, there comes a moment when he realizes it still isn't clear why Mrs. Pontellier is searching for an awakening. Even though we, who have been raised in modern society, might not see any apparent reason to become isolated from society in search of a new sense of freedom, it is clear that Mrs. Pontellier was living under completely different circumstances.

There are some who assume that it was all because of love, claiming that a deep love for Robert "was the cause of all Edna's need for freedom, her awakening." This is, however, not the case. Robert is a distraction, a way for Mrs. Pontellier to prove to herself that she isn't tied to anything. In other words, Robert is a tool for her to accomplish her awakening more sure of herself.

Living in a world where woman oppression is constantly putting their freedom at stake to maintain the balance of society, Mrs. Pontellier doesn't need excuses like love for another man to justify her need of realization. She makes it quite clear that "she felt no interest in anything about her. The street, the children," even Robert, "were all part of an alien world." (105) Love was one of those things Edna decided to leave behind. Even though she still had greater feelings for Robert than she did for her husband, Edna's reason for awakening was more than just attachment to passing emotions. Mrs. Pontellier wanted to separate herself from the world, break the rules, defy the standards imposed on her long before she could even think for herself.

Robert might have helped Mrs. Pontellier, as he seemed to be the only one who understood her need of change. That doesn't mean he inspired it; he just didn't oppose it. Also, the passion for Robert had been instilled in Mrs. Pontellier once her marriage didn't give her enough to look up to. Yet, the need for an awakening come from way before. "At a very early period she had apprehended instinctively the dual life." (36) Mrs. Pontellier has been thinking about this since she was young, understanding the unfairness of how the world treated people like her and forming the desire to rebel against it. Robert was a key inspiration in beginning the much longed for awakening, but by no means was he the reason behind it.