The music Edna is dancing to in Mlle. Reisz house is from the opera "Tristan and Isolde" by Richard Wagner. Like most old stories no one knows of its true origin, "Tristan and Isolde" can be traced as far back as the 12th century.
Follow the link and read the synopsis of the legend. What does Chopin mean to say to us by adding this legend in?Explain. Who is the "Tristan" and who is the "Isolde"?
http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/stories/synopsis.aspx?id=86
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The legend of Tristan and Isolde is kind of hard to fit into The Awakening's plot, but there are some parallels. Brangäne seems similar to Mme. Ratignolle, which would make Edna similar to Isolde--which in many ways she is. Though their situations are different, both men are the catalyst and problem in their lives.
ReplyDeleteNot only is Tristan carting Isolde off to marry another man--the king to be exact--against her will, but he also killed her fiance as well. Robert left Edna and did no write to her at all and suddenly came back into her life expecting the things to be the same.
Both Edna and Isolde go through similar moods. First they are charitable and kind to the men, but then angry and bitter, yet they still fall in love, and ultimately die (not necessarily in that order for both of them).
It seems almost as if Chopin is denouncing marriage and love, but at the same time saying that love is irrational and not controllable. The love potion brewed by Brangäne reminds me of Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, where a love potion messes up Lysander's love for Hermia and makes him love Helena instead, and ultimately when things get 'sorted out' another love potion makes Demetrius love Hermia when before he did not. However, Brangäne regrets making a love potion instead of a death potion, unlike in Shakespeare's story.
Brangäne's character seems somewhat of a meddler and, in a way, it's her fault for how things turn out. Which is similar to how Mme. Ratignolle's telling Robert to leave Edna alone sorta sets things into motion moreso for the two.
In both stories no one really condones the love between the two and their deaths seem to be somewhat of a punishment. It almost feels like societies expectations. But unlike Edna who dies alone (and commits suicide alone), Isolde dies with Tristan (group suicide).
I'm not sure who would be Tristan though. It seems like all the men in Edna's life would be Tristan--from the Common Man to Mr. Ponetellier, Alcee, and Robert. Because when Isolde first meets Tristan she is nice to him and charitable and likes him which is similar to Edna's liking the Common Man. And in a way both Tristan and the Common Man break Isolde's and Edna's hearts. Mr. Pontellier would then be Tristan when Isolde's feelings turn to hatred and anger because she feels he's not considering her wants, her feelings and is oppressing/forcing her into things. Robert and Alcee are harder to fit into it, but for me, Alcee feels like he'd be the feelings of the Love potion because he was a one night stand of sudden and unexplainable passion. Robert would be Tristan throughout the rest of the legend, if he hadn't left Edna in the first place. And in a way when he does come back, Robert fits in exactly where Mr. Pontellier does because Edna blames him and is very angry at him.
Overall, I think Chopin meant to provide a parallel of how things could turn out but didn't because love is irrational and societies expectations clash.