In chapter XVI Edna says: "I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself." What do you think she means?
I believe that in those lines contrast the "mother/woman" idea of self-sacrifing for the husband and children which was so strong at those times and her idea of being free. She would sacrifice everything which is necessary, but not herself. She has been acting like she is suppose to be but that is not her. Now that she has begun to break out of the old habits and understand what the person she really is, she is not going to give up.
From my point of view, what she's trying to point out is that she would give up anything she considers unessential but not herself. That is to say, she would never give up who she is now, the way she feels and the things she wants to achieve in life as a woman, a new woman who stands for what she long for.
I think that now that she feels different and not only mother and wife, now that she sees the world with different eyes and she does what she wants, she`s determined not to change. Saying that she wouldn`t give herself, she means she wouldn`t give up her fight of being herself, because she refuses to be the kind of woman she`s been for many years.
From my point of view, she says she will do want she thinks is good for her in order to be happy. It may be considered a selfish attitude, but if she is not able to make herself happy, who will do it for her? She is not longer satisfied with her life, she wants to be herself, to feel and think by herself without taking into account what the society of her times might think. "She wants to grow herself as individual and to create wings for herself"
"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself."
The first time I read these lines, I needed to stop and think about its real meaning. At some moment I thought of Edna as a bad mother because of what she said, but then I understood it better. She would give all her money, her time, her life to her children but she wouldn't give herself. She wouldn't change who she is for them. She wouldn't behave as Mademoiselle Ratignolle because she isn't like that. She doesn't want to fulfill that role because it means to give up her real self.
Hello everybody! Wow... I felt the same way as Flo the first time I read it. But now that I could deeply analyze Edna´s words, I think that she means she was never going to sacrifice herself for her children. What I really want to say is that she was ready to give up everything for her children and even her life on earth but not herself, not her person because if she had given herself for her children, then she would have given up all the things she fought for: her independence and integrity. This is just my opinion guys! Hope to see you soon!
"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself."
I think that what Edna meant by saying that is that she prefers even to die rather than to repress her feelings. Her money and her life are for her less important than her real being; since what is the value of life if you are not able to do what you wish, what makes you feel good? So, to give herself to her children would mean her resigning to achieve all she longs for in life and fulfilling the role of the perfect mother, the perfect wife. Moreover, she makes clear she is not willing to keep living under such a repressive and limitative paradigm for women as that of a patriarchal society is.
Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
ResponderEliminarI believe that in those lines contrast the "mother/woman" idea of self-sacrifing for the husband and children which was so strong at those times and her idea of being free. She would sacrifice everything which is necessary, but not herself. She has been acting like she is suppose to be but that is not her. Now that she has begun to break out of the old habits and understand what the person she really is, she is not going to give up.
ResponderEliminarHi !
ResponderEliminarFrom my point of view, what she's trying to point out is that she would give up anything she considers unessential but not herself. That is to say, she would never give up who she is now, the way she feels and the things she wants to achieve in life as a woman, a new woman who stands for what she long for.
I think that now that she feels different and not only mother and wife, now that she sees the world with different eyes and she does what she wants, she`s determined not to change. Saying that she wouldn`t give herself, she means she wouldn`t give up her fight of being herself, because she refuses to be the kind of woman she`s been for many years.
ResponderEliminarGood comments girls!
ResponderEliminarFrom my point of view, she says she will do want she thinks is good for her in order to be happy. It may be considered a selfish attitude, but if she is not able to make herself happy, who will do it for her? She is not longer satisfied with her life, she wants to be herself, to feel and think by herself without taking into account what the society of her times might think. "She wants to grow herself as individual and to create wings for herself"
ResponderEliminar"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself."
ResponderEliminarThe first time I read these lines, I needed to stop and think about its real meaning. At some moment I thought of Edna as a bad mother because of what she said, but then I understood it better.
She would give all her money, her time, her life to her children but she wouldn't give herself. She wouldn't change who she is for them. She wouldn't behave as Mademoiselle Ratignolle because she isn't like that. She doesn't want to fulfill that role because it means to give up her real self.
Hello everybody! Wow... I felt the same way as Flo the first time I read it. But now that I could deeply analyze Edna´s words, I think that she means she was never going to sacrifice herself for her children. What I really want to say is that she was ready to give up everything for her children and even her life on earth but not herself, not her person because if she had given herself for her children, then she would have given up all the things she fought for: her independence and integrity.
ResponderEliminarThis is just my opinion guys!
Hope to see you soon!
Hi everybody!
ResponderEliminar"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself."
I think that what Edna meant by saying that is that she prefers even to die rather than to repress her feelings. Her money and her life are for her less important than her real being; since what is the value of life if you are not able to do what you wish, what makes you feel good? So, to give herself to her children would mean her resigning to achieve all she longs for in life and fulfilling the role of the perfect mother, the perfect wife. Moreover, she makes clear she is not willing to keep living under such a repressive and limitative paradigm for women as that of a patriarchal society is.
great responses girls!!!
ResponderEliminar