The declaration of independence
The answer is:
to develop a contrast between the two sons of Madame Lebrun.
In the excerpts from "The Awakening," the author Kate Chopin makes reference to Madame Lebrun's two sons, Robert and Victor. She describes a scene in which Robert offers his mother some soup, goes into the kitchen and brings it to her with a few crackers. On the other hand, Chopin provides an account of Robert's brother, Victor, whose bad temper and stubbornness makes his mother furious.