The Awakening Characters

Edna Pontellier

• Heroine

• 28 yrs old

• Housewife of Léonce Pontellier & mother of 2 sons

Robert Lebrun

• Edna’s close friend and almost-lover

• Wealthy, charming

• 26 yrs old

Mademoiselle Reisz

• Edna’s closest friend

• Rough-edged, plainspoken spinster

• Gifted piano player

• Disliked

Adele Ratignolle

• Edna’s close friend (tempermental opposite)

• Model of Victorian womanhood: pretty, fragile, warm-hearted, completely devoted to husband & children

Alcée Arobin

• Courts Edna aggressively → become close friends

• Notorious for having relationships w/ married women

• Young, fashionable

Léonce Pontellier

• Edna’s husband

• Pragmatic, sociable businessmen

Doctor Mandelet

• Wise family doctor

• Friend of Pontelliers & Ratignolles

Colonel

• Edna’s stiff & conservative father

Mrs. Highcamp

• Middle-aged socialite, introduces Edna to Arobin

Madame Lebrun

• Robert & Victor’s widowed mother

Victor Lebrun

• Robert’s reckless younger brother 

Etienne & Raoul Pontellier

• Edna & Leonce’s 2 young sons

Mariequita

• Young Spanish girl

• Loose romantic attachment to Victor