Read each of the excerpts from The Awakening. The youngsters came tumbling up the steps, the quadroon following at the respectfu
l distance which they required her to observe. Mrs. Pontellier made them carry her paints and things into the house. She sought to detain them for a little talk and some pleasantry. But they were greatly in earnest. They had only come to investigate the contents of the bonbon box. *** [Mrs. Pontellier] stood watching the fair woman walk down the long line of galleries with the grace and majesty which queens are sometimes supposed to possess. Her little ones ran to meet her. Two of them clung about her white skirts, the third she took from its nurse and with a thousand endearments bore it along in her own fond, encircling arms. Which best explains why the author included both of these scenes in the story? to develop a contrast between the way in which Mrs. Pontellier and Madame Ratignolle carry out traditional female roles to develop an understanding of the role of a quadroon in raising children during the time period to develop an understanding of the close friendship that exists between Mrs. Pontellier and Madame Ratignolle to develop a contrast between the way in which the quadroon and the nurse accept their positions as mother figures
Mrs Pontellier and Madame Ratignolle are friends who have opposite characteristics and represent different female roles. The first does not have a special bond with her children - she makes them carry her paints and things into the house. The children do not stop to talk to her - they just want to see what is in the bonbon box.
On the other hand, Mrs Pontellier sees Madame Ratignolle as a graceful and refined woman with a stronger maternity spirit. She has a more loving relationship with her children, since they embrace her as soon as they see her.
