"She leaned over and kissed him - a soft, cool, delicate kiss, whose voluptuous sting penetrated his whole being - then she moved away from him. He followed, and took her in his arms, just holding her close to him. She put her hand up to his face and pressed his cheek against her own. The action was full of love and tenderness. He sought her lips again. Then he drew her down upon the sofa beside him and held her hand in both of his.
“Now you know,” he said, “now you know what I have been fighting
against since last summer at Grand Isle; what drove me away and drove
me back again.”
“Why have you been fighting against it?” she asked. Her face glowed
with soft lights.
“Why? Because you were not free; you were Leonce Pontellier’s wife. I
couldn’t help loving you if you were ten times his wife; but so long as I
went away from you and kept away I could help telling you so.” She put
her free hand up to his shoulder, and then against his cheek, rubbing it
softly. He kissed her again. His face was warm and flushed.'"
This passage is the climax of a big part of the book. In this section, Edna confesses her love for Robert by kissing him, and then he confesses his love for her. This scene happens after Robert returns from his trip to Mexico, and he and Edna spend some time together. Throughout her awakenings, Edna explores herself, and even has an affair with Arobin, but she still loves Robert throughout all of this. This passage is important to the book because it finally shows outright Edna and Robert's love for each other. This is also the last time that Robert and Edna will see each other.
I choose this passage because it wrapped up and answered many of the uncertainties and questions in the novel. It is the only time in the novel where Edna and Robert confess their love for each other. I think that once Edna has confessed her love for Robert and realizes that she cannot have it, that is what leads her to suicide. After Edna and Robert separate, Edna realizes that they can never be together. I thought that this kiss was the beginning and the end of Roberts and Edna's romance. It is the first time that they show feelings toward each other, but it also makes them realize that they can not be together, which makes it the end of their relationship.
“Now you know,” he said, “now you know what I have been fighting
against since last summer at Grand Isle; what drove me away and drove
me back again.”
“Why have you been fighting against it?” she asked. Her face glowed
with soft lights.
“Why? Because you were not free; you were Leonce Pontellier’s wife. I
couldn’t help loving you if you were ten times his wife; but so long as I
went away from you and kept away I could help telling you so.” She put
her free hand up to his shoulder, and then against his cheek, rubbing it
softly. He kissed her again. His face was warm and flushed.'"
This passage is the climax of a big part of the book. In this section, Edna confesses her love for Robert by kissing him, and then he confesses his love for her. This scene happens after Robert returns from his trip to Mexico, and he and Edna spend some time together. Throughout her awakenings, Edna explores herself, and even has an affair with Arobin, but she still loves Robert throughout all of this. This passage is important to the book because it finally shows outright Edna and Robert's love for each other. This is also the last time that Robert and Edna will see each other.
I choose this passage because it wrapped up and answered many of the uncertainties and questions in the novel. It is the only time in the novel where Edna and Robert confess their love for each other. I think that once Edna has confessed her love for Robert and realizes that she cannot have it, that is what leads her to suicide. After Edna and Robert separate, Edna realizes that they can never be together. I thought that this kiss was the beginning and the end of Roberts and Edna's romance. It is the first time that they show feelings toward each other, but it also makes them realize that they can not be together, which makes it the end of their relationship.