CHAPTER 17

Summary

The holiday is over, and Edna's life in New Orleans begins to follow the old routines.

Tuesday is set aside as a reception day. Edna is expected to dress finely and receive visitors, usually L'once's business associates. After a few weeks, she decides to break the format and when Tuesday comes round, she wears an ordinary housedress. She tells L'once that she will not be home to receive visitors. In addition, she does not advised the servants concerning this.

L'once is angry that Edna is neglecting her social duties, and fears that it may endanger his relationships with his business associates.

Edna is really depressed at her home life. Symbolically, she takes off her wedding ring and tries to crush it. The ring withstands her treatment, but a glass vase is not so successful.

Interpretation

Edna is brought back down to reality with a jolt.

The way that Robert left her scarred her, but now the boring routine of New Orleans life really depresses her.

Edna no longer wishes to conform, and she starts her program of rebellion. She wishes to break the routine of her life, which is run to a strict timetable, and she starts by refusing to take part in the Tuesday charade of entertaining visitors.

Her action is a cry for help to L'once, but he is unable to relate to Edna. He makes no attempt to find out what ails her. In frustration, Edna tries to destroy the symbol of their marriage and takes her fury out on a vase instead.