CHAPTER 30
Summary
At the party, Edna has a small gathering of her friends, some of whom she
met at the Race Track, and also Mlle. Reisz. Ad'le is not present because she is nearing the end of her confinement, but her husband takes her place.
It is also Edna’s 29th birthday, so it is a dual celebration. She is dressed in a magnificent gown and seems to be in control of her life for the first time. However, she is sad that Robert has not returned to be with her.
Soon the guests start to go, leaving Victor, Arobin and Mrs. Highcamp with
Edna.
The
party starts to become boisterous and they try to encourage Victor
to sing. He accepts and whilst looking at Edna he sings “Ah!
Si tu savais!”. Edna angrily tells him to stop, but he refuses,
only stopping when she clasps her hand over his mouth. He
kisses her hand in an erotic fashion, and the remaining guests decide
that the evening has come to a conclusion.
Interpretation
Edna is on the threshold of a new life and symbolically this coincides with
her 29th birthday.
Her dream world is almost complete, and only Robert’s absence stops it from
being perfect.
We note how she tries to control her male guests, in particular Victor, who
sings a song that she disagrees with.
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