How is the dual self represented in The Awakening?

The dual self is
represented by the character of . She eventually begins to question society and society's
rulesthe very rules to which she has outwardly conformed for so long. For example, prior to
Edna's figurative awakening, she kept a regular reception day, as dictated by the upper-class
mores of New Orleans society. On Tuesdays, Edna would remain at home, wearing a "handsome
reception gown" and receiving visitors all day long. She has done this every day for her
six-year marriage, until she and her family returned from Grand Isle this time. She does not
remain at home one Tuesday, and she tells , "I simply felt like going out, and I went
out." Leonce is appalled because "'people don't do such things; we've got to observe
les convenances if we ever expect to get on and keep up with the procession," he says. But
Edna really does not care about "keeping up" with society at this point. Where she
once conformed, she is no longer willing to do so.

Edna wants freedom and
independence from society's rules, but she also wants to be accepted by society, and these two
things really cannot go together, as we see with Mlle. Reisz. Reisz has more freedom than most
women at the time, but she is never invited to parties except to play the piano and entertain
others. She lives alone, which grants her a great deal of independence, but she remains on the
fringe of society, never to be accepted by its inner circle, as Edna desires to continue to be.
For example, she wants to leave her husband and become 's mistress, and she tells Robert,
"We shall be everything to each other. Nothing else in the world is of any
consequence." However, Robert cannot accept these terms; he wants to compel Leonce to
divorce Edna so that Robert can marry her, but Edna laughs at this idea, shocking him too. He
must know that shunning society's rules will result in society's rejection, as he leaves her a
note that says, "'Good-byebecause I love you.'" He tries to save her from social ruin
by abandoning her, because he evidently realizes what she does not: that one cannot turn one's
back on society and still enjoy the privileges of acceptance.