I remember last summer, walking along the beach, seeing the sunset and thinking to myself "This is heaven!" when I was interrupted by the voice of a man exclaiming, "C'mon, it's just a stupid sunset." My first impression of this man was that he was ignorant and wouldn't know true beauty if it hit him on the head, but as I thought about it I realized that I was the one being ignorant. Every person sees the world around them through different eyes. Just as we see objects, our perception of people may not only contradict how other people see that person, but also how that person sees himself or herself. An excellent example of this conflict of perception is in the novel, The Awakening. This novel explores the rebirth and sexual awakening of Edna Pontellier, in the period of the late 1800's. As Edna searches for independence and passion outside of her marriage, she often finds herself struggling between how people see her and who she knows she is.
             The first and perhaps the most important example of this contradiction is in the relationship that she has with her husband, Leoncé Pontellier. Edna, as a result of her experiences at Grand Isle, begins to uncover her own identity, independent of her husband and children. However, as she finally finds the strength to escape the restrictions of her domestic situation, Leoncé is always right behind her, commanding her to quit her nonsense and be a good housewife. "Think of what people will say!" This quote seems to be Leoncé's favorite line each time Edna behaves in a manner that may cause gossip around town. From this it is evident that Leoncé sees Edna not as the woman she is, but rather as a pretty collectable with which to boost his social image.
             Unfortunately, Leoncé is not the only person who feels that abiding by society is top priority. Madame Ratignolle, a good friend of Edna, is the epitome of ...