Mademoiselle Reisz
When we began to be introduced to Mademoiselle Reisz character I was mesmerized by her. In my eyes, Mademoiselle Resiz was so beyond everyone else's close minded mindset from that time period. Mademoiselle Reisz is introduced to us as "...a disagreeable little woman, no longer young, who has quarreled with almost everyone...." (54) and she's dragging a chair across a room because she doesn't want to sit next to a crying kid. Simply iconic.
The way I pictured her was the same I pictured that very cool, female character that empowers all the sexes. A woman that had very cool dresses, a weird hairstyle that just works it, and the typical character who you just can't help but love. To me, Mademoiselle Reisz was like the Dumbledore of the story and Edna is simply clueless 10 year old Harry.
Mademoiselle Reisz plays the piano with extraordinary skill, and unlike Madame Ratignolle, she plays for the pure joy of it and not for mere entertainment or domestic decoration. She seems to be the only one who understands Edna. And even though she lacks of a husband (which seems to be an unspeakable thing for the time period) she seems to be the only one in the whole book who is really happy.
The only one who seems to have it all figured out.
Mademoiselle Reisz is the woman that Edna can become if she beings to live independent of her husband and children. Mademoiselle functions as a sort of muse for Edna, acting as the living example of an entirely self-sufficient woman, who is ruled by her art and her passions, rather by the expectations of society. In a way, she is the representative of the feminist movement which began emerging in 1890s
She is the most influential character in Edna's awakening because Edna admires her life and decides she wants to live like that. In the beginning of the novel, Edna is a character who fits in with the society, but is unhappy with it. Her unhappiness and influence from Mademoiselle Reisz is what eventually leads her to become independent.
Chopin describes a parrot at the beginning of the book as "speaking a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mockingbird that hung on the other side of the door" (13). In this case, Edna is the parrot and her urge to break free from the restraining life she lives and concentrate on her art is the language nobody understands since she can't really relate these feeling to any one else; nonetheless, the mockingbird on the other side of the door does understand. This mockingbird is Mademoiselle Reisz and her art ( playing the piano) is the language she speaks in common with Edna. This music is the language Edna's soul has been waiting in silence for.
Mademoiselle Reisz is everything Edna aspires to be. Mademoiselle Reisz is Edna's awakening.
The way I pictured her was the same I pictured that very cool, female character that empowers all the sexes. A woman that had very cool dresses, a weird hairstyle that just works it, and the typical character who you just can't help but love. To me, Mademoiselle Reisz was like the Dumbledore of the story and Edna is simply clueless 10 year old Harry.
Mademoiselle Reisz plays the piano with extraordinary skill, and unlike Madame Ratignolle, she plays for the pure joy of it and not for mere entertainment or domestic decoration. She seems to be the only one who understands Edna. And even though she lacks of a husband (which seems to be an unspeakable thing for the time period) she seems to be the only one in the whole book who is really happy.
The only one who seems to have it all figured out.
Mademoiselle Reisz has lived. She doesn't let the pressure of this patriarchal society bring her down, she is the one responsible for Edna's artistic development and as well as keeping Edna's love for Robert alive. She noticed at the party that Edna was the only one who was really touched by the music she was playing, and thats when she realized she had found a kindred spirit.
"I wonder if I shall ever be stirred again as Mademoiselle Reisz’s playing moved me tonight." (62)
(Edna listening to Mademoiselle Reisz play the piano)
She is the most influential character in Edna's awakening because Edna admires her life and decides she wants to live like that. In the beginning of the novel, Edna is a character who fits in with the society, but is unhappy with it. Her unhappiness and influence from Mademoiselle Reisz is what eventually leads her to become independent.
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