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【Abstract】In the essay a deconstructionist perspective is used to look at Edna’s economic status. Edna’s economic independence is gained at the absence of her husband and is within the boundary accepted by men. Despite the fact that she has got incomes and a house of her own， men still can claim ownership of Edna， leaving the convention that women shall depend on men economically intact.
【Key words】The Awakening； economic independence； Deconstructionist
A deconstructionist perspective can be used to look at Edna’s economic dependence and independence. In a patriarchal community of which Edna is a member， whether she has any income to support herself or the family matters surprisingly little and her attempt to gain economic independence is in vain though she seems， without further contemplation， to have succeeded.
For women， the stereotyped and not imagined， to make the meaning more accurate， role for a woman was a wife and “mother woman” （P29）. Women of high social status accordingly should and did stay at home， when money needed， turning to their husbands， who took up all the responsibility for feeding the family， claiming， therefore， the ownership of women. In such a social background， it is not surprising that Edna is introduced to the reader through the eyes of her owner， namely her husband. In a men/women relationship， money gives Mr. Pontellier such power that after the couple have a fierce fight， he simply gives the woman half of the money he has won the night before and successfully reconciles with her. Regarding his wife as property， he， alone， excluding Edna， claims the ownership of the house. Over the house， Edna has no right. But instead， she is not unlike a canary living in this charming house， both the house and herself belonging to the owner， Mr. Pontellier.
Of such economic dependence， Edna is soberly aware. As a part of her rebellion against the man-dominated society， she takes a daring step and moves out of her husband’s house， a cage for her. In a conversation with Mademoiselle about her plan for moving， she exclaims， “It [the house] never seemed like mine， anyway—like a home.” Her meaning is more bluntly revealed by her interlocutor who sharply points out， “They are your husband’s.” （P102） With the husband far away， she does move into a house and arrange it as she wishes， turning herself into a decision maker， the role her husband once assumed. The house， thus， becomes “habitable and homelike” （P115） for her. To make her rebellion more precious is her plan to make a living with her own hands， which is unimaginable for married women and can be comprehended only by those women who had no one to turn to， such as Mademoiselle and those in the lower class. Brave and imprudent as well， she has made a plan to earn money out of her painting and stop being at mercy of her husband.
【Key words】The Awakening； economic independence； Deconstructionist
A deconstructionist perspective can be used to look at Edna’s economic dependence and independence. In a patriarchal community of which Edna is a member， whether she has any income to support herself or the family matters surprisingly little and her attempt to gain economic independence is in vain though she seems， without further contemplation， to have succeeded.
For women， the stereotyped and not imagined， to make the meaning more accurate， role for a woman was a wife and “mother woman” （P29）. Women of high social status accordingly should and did stay at home， when money needed， turning to their husbands， who took up all the responsibility for feeding the family， claiming， therefore， the ownership of women. In such a social background， it is not surprising that Edna is introduced to the reader through the eyes of her owner， namely her husband. In a men/women relationship， money gives Mr. Pontellier such power that after the couple have a fierce fight， he simply gives the woman half of the money he has won the night before and successfully reconciles with her. Regarding his wife as property， he， alone， excluding Edna， claims the ownership of the house. Over the house， Edna has no right. But instead， she is not unlike a canary living in this charming house， both the house and herself belonging to the owner， Mr. Pontellier.
Of such economic dependence， Edna is soberly aware. As a part of her rebellion against the man-dominated society， she takes a daring step and moves out of her husband’s house， a cage for her. In a conversation with Mademoiselle about her plan for moving， she exclaims， “It [the house] never seemed like mine， anyway—like a home.” Her meaning is more bluntly revealed by her interlocutor who sharply points out， “They are your husband’s.” （P102） With the husband far away， she does move into a house and arrange it as she wishes， turning herself into a decision maker， the role her husband once assumed. The house， thus， becomes “habitable and homelike” （P115） for her. To make her rebellion more precious is her plan to make a living with her own hands， which is unimaginable for married women and can be comprehended only by those women who had no one to turn to， such as Mademoiselle and those in the lower class. Brave and imprudent as well， she has made a plan to earn money out of her painting and stop being at mercy of her husband.