Madameoiselle Riesz tells Edna that in order to suceed, "the artist must possess
the couragous soul...the brave soul. The soul that dares and defies." This most
accurately describes Edna. Edna does possess the courages soul and the soul
that dares and defies. She was inspired my Madameoiselle Riesz who is an
artist herself and possesses the soul to be only herself.
With the help of Madameoiselle Riesz, Edna was able to be herself and act
out on her desires and urges. She no longer had to force herself to be someone
who she wasn't in order to fit in with the "mother-women." She no longer had
to fit in. Madameoiselle Riesz gave Edna the courage to search deep inside
herself for what was really there, for even she had no idea, and then act on
that.
At the beginning of the novel Edna is only existing, only going through
the motions of life.
Keep Your Soul Together
My Soul
English: Edna St, Battersea 24 Edna St, Battersea....She is unhappy and doesn't really know why. Deep inside
her is the need to escape and be free from her obligations as a wife and
mother. She has always possessed this independent attitude and felt trapped
by her family. It was only when Edna met and became friends with Adele and
Madameoiselle Reisz that she was able to realize why she was unhappy and
what was missing in her life.
As Edna begins to realize more and more about herself and what she is
missing in her life, she is able to become more independent and become the
free women she has always seceretly desired to become.
Edna refuses to be controlled and devote heself to her husband and
children. She wants to be independent, able to come and go as she pleases
without having to worry about the rules and restrictions that come...