Mademoiselle Reisz and Robert Lebrun have the most influence on Edna Pontellier because they awaken her senses. Edna considers herself to be numb her entire life and for the first time she begins to feel. Reisz and Robert help to awaken her in very different but important ways. Reisz introduced Edna to her artistic creativity and independence. Robert introduced her to what it means to love someone.
             Mademoiselle Reisz is a very independent woman for her time period. The Awakening is placed in a time where women are devoted to their husbands and children and that is their whole life. Reisz whistles to her own tune. She does not listen to anybody, but herself. She is a very rude and ill-tempered woman. Many people do not like her very much so she is isolated from society, which is how she likes it. She has no family or friends to confide in so she spends her time playing music. Reisz is a very serious musician and mostly plays piano.
             Mademoiselle Reisz's intentions were to help Edna to self discovery. Reisz is one of the first people to tell Edna that she should just be herself. She is the one that tells Edna that she should do more of what her heart says and not so much what society tells her to do. She helps Edna with her artwork. Edna is not the best artist and Reisz knows that, but she still helps her become better and explains what being great takes. She helps her in saying things such as this: "'And, moreover, to succeed, the artist must posses the courageous soul.' 'What do you mean by the courageous soul?' 'Courageous, ma foi! The brave soul. The soul that dares and defies.'" (Chopin 85-86). Reisz lets Edna read the letters that Robert sends her about Edna. She realizes that that could spark something immoral between Edna and Robert, but she thinks Edna deserves to see them. Reisz greatly respects Edna and wants to help her.
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