Double Standard Society

As read in the Handmaid's Tale, patriarchy is a factor that is clear and present in Gilead by promoting males as the most privilege. Comparing this factor of patriarchy to The Awakening, this issue is also present and very clear to recognize in Grand Isle. The society that Edna lives in portrays women as wives and mothers that are selfless and are able to put themselves last while putting others first. Though Edna is both a wife and a mother, she finds herself unhappy and wanting more leading her to leave her husband and kids behind. Reflecting on this matter, I see Edna as a woman that wants to be free and independent. However society then suggests that by wanting independence she is selfish and looked down upon. Edna is a test case of this chasing for freedom and independence and realizes she does not want to put herself last. 

Patriarchy plays a factor in this book because women are looked to be selfless and giving up their personal wants, needs and drives to please others first. Meanwhile, men are able to do what they want and when they want per say. For example if a man were in Edna's situation, things would be turned around completely causing a whole different reaction from society- a man leaving his wife and kids because of a midlife crisis is not looked down upon as bad as if a woman leaves her family. Such in The Awakening, Leonce is not in the picture as much because he is out traveling for work but that is okay because he is a male and does not have the standards of selfless that he must appeal to. I personally feel as though the rules  and the role Edna had to partake in because of society's standards led to her reactions and emotions. All she knows is this society's outlook on women but deep down inside she knows there is more for her. Edna's vision of what she wanted to be represents many women today but in the 1800's were not accepted as a fit women. 

Though in the 1800's society is quite different from 2014's society, there are still many similarities that are still standardized towards women. For example the same outlook applies to women that are a wife and/or mother to be selfless- to honor her husband and make her life revolve around her children and to never leave her family or else looked very badly upon. If we were to take Edna's story and travel it into today's society, I feel as though things would still be looked the somewhat the same upon her as being selfish and unfit because of her personal motives. And as seen in the 1800's as well patriarchal demands are still present in today's society because if a man were in Edna's situation- he would be looked down upon as well but not as much as a women would for leaving her family.