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Courtney Henry Dr. Gates English 204 March 23, 2014

The Definition of a Good Husband What really makes a man a good husband? Everyone has different standards for that question and there really isnt a real definition. So how do we know if Lonce Pontellier is a good husband? The Awakening by Kate Chopin was published in 1899 so the standards of a good husband vary greatly from today. While reading The Awakening Kate Chopin never portrays Lonce Pontellier as a horrible husband or father. To me Lonce Pontellier is not a bad husband by any means, he is just a man that worries about his kids, thinks about his wifes well being, and gives her what she wants. Lonce Pontellier isnt an amazing father who would give up anything for his children, but his wife Edna isnt an amazing mother either. At the beginning of The Awakening Lonce went to Kleins hotel both of his children wanted to come with him, so he kissed them goodbye and promised to bring back treats (45). Now it doesnt make Lonce a terrible father that he forgot to bring his kids treats when he came home that night. Did he forget about them? Yes, he did but it did not harm his children that he forgot. On that same night before Lonce went to bed he made sure his boys were asleep and safe in their beds. I dont think that Lonce really trusts Edna with his kids; he doesnt feel like she is a good enough mother. As it states in The Awakening: In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman. The mother-women seemed to prevail

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that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels (51). Lonce has every right to worry about his kids since Edna didnt act other mothers from this time period. The fact that he does worry makes him a decent father. Lonce Pontellier is not the most excellent husband in the world by any means. He is an extremely controlling man. At the start of the novel Mr. Pontellier scolds his wife for bathing at such a sweltering time of the day. He says You are burnt beyond recognition, he added looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage (44). If a man thought of his wife like a piece of property in the 21st century he, more than likely, would be considered a controlling and dreadful husband. The Awakening was not written in the 21st century though, and in 1899 wealthy men did own their wifes in a sense. In my opinion Kate Chopin said this to show that Lonce cared for his wife. It was improper for women in this time to be tan, so Lonce scolding Edna was in her best interest in his mind. He is by no means a jealous husband. Edna spends most or all of her time with Robert, at one point she is gone all day with him. Edna and Robert went to church but when Edna becomes sick Robert took her to rest at Madame Antoines house. After Edna awoke she made the comment, I wonder if Lonce will be uneasy! she speculated, as she seated herself at [the] table. Of course not; he knows you are with me, replied Robert (86). In todays world most men would be very jealous/upset if their wife was sick and spent the whole day with another man. Lonce on the other hand didnt mind that she was with Robert as long as she was all right.

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Even though Lonce is gone most of the time he still makes sure that his wife everything that she need. In this time period the husband was suppose to take care of and provide for his family. Even though he was gone a lot Lonce left for business reasons, he was always gone to provide for his family. He makes sure to keep an eye on her when he home from business. Such as the time that Edna finally learns how to swim, after she got a little ways from shore Edna didnt think she was going to be able to make it back. Edna confided in her husband about her near death experience by saying, .I thought I should have perished out there alone. You were not so very far, my dear; I was watching you, he told her (74). This is one of the many little things that Lonce did throughout the whole novel to show that he really did care for and love his wife. Lonce Pontellier shows his love for Edna in a different way than what we are used to. Sometimes it can be mistaken as him being selfish or only caring about what people will say. For example when Lonce learned about his wife moving out he sent her a letter saying, He hoped she had not acted upon her rash impulse; and begged her to consider first, foremost, and above all else, what people would say (150). Now this is a very good example that Lonce Pontellier is consumed with worry of what people will say of him, his family, and his business. But remembering Ednas whimsical turn of mind of late, and foreseeing that she had immediately acted upon her impetuous determination; he grasped the situation with his usual promptness and handled it with his well-known business tact and cleverness (150). This quote means that even though Lonce does not want his wife to move out, he understands that she more than likely already did. Instead of getting mad and demanding that she not leave he came up with a plan to remodel the house so people wouldnt talk about the Pontellier family having financial problems.

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Lonce Pontellier is not a wonderful husband or this amazing father, but he is nowhere close to being a horrible husband either. He is a man who cares about his wife and kids, but also has a life of his own. During most of the novel he is gone on business, but that is his job. Wealthy men during 1899 had a responsibility to take care of their family and be the sole providers. This is what Lonce Pontellier does for his family. He is a good husband by the standards of his time period.

Work Cited Chopin Kate. The Awakening and Selected Stories. 84th ed. Sandra M. Gilbert. New York: Penguin. 2003. Print