(2) Provide appropriate and plentiful text examples, quotes, definitions, etc., that illustrate and validate your group’s critical focus and “reading” of the novel to the class. 

• Some chapters will provide more examples than others. Make sure you are indicating which chapter your example is from. Explain your examples! 

(3) utilizes practical illustrations, images, and color stickies and uses VISIBLE text size for presentation - anything to make it visually attractive and informative to your peers!

(4.) When you post to the Padlet, make sure to include your initials on your post. 1 person creates the Padlet and then adds the others as “Collaborators” through the Share Button. 

 assumptions." Feminist criticism attempts to correct this imbalance by analyzing and  combating such attitudes-by questioning, for example, why none of the characters in  Shakespeare's play Othello ever challenge the right of a husband to murder a wife  accused of adultery. Other goals of feminist critics include "analyzing how sexual identity  influences the reader of a text" and "examin[ing] how the images of men and women in  imaginative literature reflect or reject the social forces that have 

 historically kept the sexes from achieving total equality." 

The first example of feminist themes I noticed was the caged parrot in chapter 1. The parrot is said to be, "repeating over and over... a language which nobody understood." This quote, coupled with the imagery of the caged bird, helps Chopin convey to readers how she views the current state of the world in regards to feminism. That is, she believes women are viewed as caged property who are constantly "chirping" about ideas of freedom but are subsequently silenced and shut down. Mr. Pontellier's "privilege of quitting their society when they ceased to be entertaining," starkly represents the ability and freedom that men had in comparison to women.

Chapter 2:

In Chapter 2 there was one quote I noted, "...flanked by its dozens or more cottages...it enabled Madam Lebrun to maintain the easy and comfortable existence which appeared to her birthright." This indicates that for women specifically, a comfortable life was only available for them WITHOUT a husband if it was their birthright. Since Madame Lebrun is a widow, she was still reliant on her husband when he was alive, but now she is able to sufficiently support herself with the cottages.

Chapter 3:

I think that chapter 3 is where Chopin's feminist criticisms seep through more intensely. The first example of this is a quote at the very beginning of the chapter; "He thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation." Mr. Pontellier's perception of his wife here is that she is nothing but a recipient for his ideas and comments, and that she should always be alert to him and his existence. However, Edna feels trapped by this in her marriage, as we can infer from her frequent crying and her acknowledgement that, "such experiences as the foregoing were not uncommon in her married life." Overall, I think that chapter 3 marks the beginning of Edna's "awakening" into the desire for an independent, free life as a woman.

The concept of the "mother-woman" is introduced and expanded upon in Chapter 4, where they are described to be, "woman who idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels." This establishes the belief that women in this time period are meant to be perfect beings (as alluded by the use of the word "angels") and wholly subservient to their families (as alluded by the uses of "idolized" and "worshipped"). An example of the mother-woman is introduced following the description: Adele Ratignolle. Adele's importance in Edna's journey of self-discovery is critical as we continue into the later chapters.

Chapter 5:

One subtle piece of foreshadowing for Edna's awakening is displayed in chapter 5, where she and Robert are sitting on the porch steps and he tries to rest his head on her arm. She, "gently... repulsed him," then he tries to do it again, to where she, "believed it to be thoughtlessness on his part; yet that was no reason she should submit to it." The idea of "disobeying" or not submitting to a man in this time period is controversial for women and demonstrates how Edna is evolving in her awakening.

Chapter 6:

In this short chapter, Edna is described as, "beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being." This is a critical point to note--even though this chapter is short, it is an example of how Edna is continuing to evolve socially and with her self-perception. She is more frequently challenging established stereotypes of women in this time period and embracing her desire for independence.

Chapter 7:

I find that one quote in particular greatly represents how maintaining femininity in such a restrictive and oppressive time period as 1899 is. In chapter 7, while Madam Ratignolle and Edna are on the beach, the wind that "whips the water into froth" also "fluttered the skirts of the two women and kept them for a while engaged in adjusting, readjusting, tucking in, securing hair-pins and hat-pins." The sequential list of actions is a great example of Chopin's "show, don't tell" writing style. She is using the wind to represent the restrictive reminders that women in this time period live under, while showing the effects of such restrictions. As a result, the audience's exposition is developed so that they can understand the source of Edna's awakening.

Chapter 10:

Chapter 10 is groundbreaking for Edna, as Chopin uses Edna's swim to represent her desire for independence in a male-dominated society. This concept is best represented by the quotes, "She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before," and, "as she swam, she seemed to be reaching out for the unlimited in which to lose herself." Even though we can conclude that swimming is a great feat for Edna, it has a deeper representation for her; awakening and rebirth. She is discovering that her potential is unlimited and starts to crave the power and control she feels by being free of her "mother-woman-ly" responsibilities.

Later on in chapter nine, Victor and the guests start talking about the food that was served at the party. While the food was actually made by two black women in the kitchen, Victor takes credit for "his achievement." (Chapter 9) While women can do amazing things and accomplish things that some men cannot, men, like Victor, like to take credit for what's not truly theirs.