Summary of Kate Chopin's "The Awakening": Chapter 2

Robert and Edna sat there on the porch together, and as they were talking Robert was rolling a cigarette. He told her that he could not afford to smoke cigars, which is why he smoked cigarettes all the time. Mr. Pontellier had given him a cigar, which he kept in his pocket for after dinner. Edna picked up a palm-leaf fan that was on the porch so that she could cool herself down. They talked like old friends, fluttering from one subject to another. They talked about the people staying at Grande Isle, the children playing, and the Farval twins, who were now playing "The Poet and the Peasant."

Edna and Robert were both relatively young. Robert's youth caused him to tell Edna a lot about himself, while Edna spoke very little about herself. Robert had dreams of going to Mexico and making a lot of money, but in the meantime he worked as a clerk in mercantile shop, in New Orleans. He was greatly valued for his ability to communicate in English, French, and Spanish. As always, he was at Grande Isle visiting his mother for his summer vacation. The main house, at one time, was a very luxurious summer house for the Lebruns, but his mother had turned it into an exclusive vacation resort as a way to maintain her rich lifestyle.

Edna was from the Deep South. Her father had had a plantation in Mississippi, and she had lived in Kentucky as a girl. Edna would read Robert the letters she received from her sister, who spent the majority of her time in the East. Her sister had gotten engaged, without any approval from her family. Robert was very interested in Edna's family, and he asked a lot of questions about Edna and her sister's relationship, Edna's father, and about Edna's deceased mother.

Edna closed the letter from her sister, because it was time to get dressed for dinner. She said to Robert that it looked like her husband was not going to be there for dinner. Robert had assumed this, because he knew there were a lot of men down from New Orleans at Klein's. Edna went inside to change, and Robert went over to where the Pontellier children were playing croquet. He played with them for the half an hour before dinner. The boys liked him very much.

Chapter 3:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2519575/summary_of_kate_chopins_the_awakening.html?cat=4

Chapter 1:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2493917/summary_of_kate_chopins_the_awakening.html?cat=4

Character Descriptions and Paper Topics:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2487006/kate_chopins_the_awakening.html?cat=4

Works Cited:

Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1995.