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Chapters 1-5
Leonce and Edna Pontellier with their two children are vacationing for the summer at Grande Isle. Leonce is not sensitive to Ednas feelings and its made clear early on that Edna is not happy. Leonce returns to New Orleans for work during the week. Edna spends her time with Adele Ratignolle, the perfect housewife and mother and Robert Lebrun, who assists his mother in running the vacation spot. Leonce is concerned about the care his children get when he is away because Edna is not very motherly. -
Chapters 6-8
Edna and Adele sit on the beach. Edna tells Adele about her past and the men that she had been infatuated with but they didn’t return the same feeling. She talks about how her marriage was an accident. She thinks about how she is fond of her children but would sometimes forget them. They are interrupted by Robert Lebrun and their children. Robert helps Adele to her cottage and asks Robert to leave Edna alone. He is upset by her request and says that he is not Alcee Arobin, a known womanizer. -
Chapters 9-12
After dinner Mademoiselle Reisz plays a song on the piano that deeply moves Edna and brings her to tears. After Robert suggests that all the guests go for a night swim. Edna who has been struggling to learn to swim finally does. She is overcome with Joy. She hardly sleeps that night because of all the emotions she just experienced. The next day she wants to go to church and asks Robert to accompany her. -
Chapters 13-14
In church Edna is overcome with exhaustion and leaves. Robert takes her to a nearby friend’s to rest. Madame Antonine puts Edna up in a guest’s room. Edna awakens several hours later to a meal that Robert has fixed her. They talk with Madame Antonine until the evening. Robert borrows a boat so they can return to Grande Isle. Upon their return, Edna finds her son that can’t sleep and rocks him to bed. She then goes to the beach to think. She sings the song that Robert sang on the boat trip back. -
Chapters 15-16
Edna learns that Robert is leaving for Mexico and is very upset. Robert comes to say goodbye and asks her not to be upset with him. As he walks away, she has the same feeling she had when she was a girl. Of infatuation with a man that did not return the same feelings. After Robert leaves Edna spends her time with others talking about him. She also tells her friend Adele that she would never sacrifice herself for her children. Adele, being the picture perfect mother just doesn’t understand. -
Chapters 17-18
The Pontelliers return to the city and Edna goes out on her reception day. A day she is to stay home and accept visitors. Leonce is upset and tells her that this could hurt business. He also blames her for poorly made dinner prepared by the cook because she is not properly managing her. He leaves and Edna throws her wedding ring and stomps on it. The next day Enda goes to visit Adele. She observes her perfect marriage and pities them because they will never experience “life’s delirium.” -
Chapters 19-21
Edna continues to abandon her womanly duties and her husband begins to worry about her mental health. She visits Madame Lebrun and finds Robert has written her two letters. She reads them and is disappointed that he doesn’t mention her. She finds that Robert has also written Mademoiselle Reisz but in this letter, he spoke of Edna and ask Mademoiselle Reisz to play a song for her if she visits. Mademoiselle Reisz plays the song for Edna as she reads the letter and she begins to cry. -
Chapters 22-24
Leonce goes to his doctor and friend about Edna. He suspects another man but tells Leonce to let her be. Edna’s father comes to visit and they go to the horse track where they meet Alcee Arobin. That evening the doctor comes to dinner and tells a story of a married women who falls for another man but returns to her husband. Edna tells a story of a couple in love who rowed away in a boat and disappeared. A few days later Ednas father and husband leave. The kids are also away and Edna is alone. -
Chapters 25-26
Edna spends time painting, visiting friends or at the track. She becomes closer with Alcee. When he kisses her hand, she pulls it away and feels that she has been unfaithful to Robert not her husband. She goes to visit Mademoiselle Reisz and tells her that she is moving out to a smaller house. Reisz has a letter from Robert who states he is coming home. This news puts Edna in a good mood and she sends her children bonbons and writes her husband a cheerful letter telling him that she is moving. -
Chapters 27-31
Arobin comes to visit that evening and kisses her. She kisses him back in what she describes as a flaming torch that kindled desire. She cries when he leaves because she regrets the kiss was not with Robert. The next day Edna is preparing for a dinner party. She enjoys the party until Victor starts singing the song that Robert sang to her. She begs him to stop and puts her hand on his mouth. After the party Arobin walks Edna to the pigeon house. That night they become more than just friends. -
Chapters 32-35
Leonce receives Ednas letter about moving and concerned about how this might impact his business, he makes plans to have the mansion renovated and puts a notice in the paper. Edna goes to spend a week with her children and has a wonderful time. She is sad to leave them. She returns to visit Mademoiselle Reisz and while waiting for her Robert shows up. He walks her home and they have dinner. Their visit does not go well because her feeling are hurt. -
Chapters 36-38
Edna runs into Robert at a café. They have an enjoyable time and Robert escorts her home. Once inside Edna kisses him and he professes his love to her. She is then called away to help her friend Adele in labor. She begs Robert to wait for her and tells him that she must go. When Edna leaves Adele tells her to think of her children. When she gets home Robert is not there but he has left a goodbye note. -
Chapter 39
Edna goes to the resort on Grande Isle. Victor is there working and is surprised to see her. He scurries to get a room prepared for her and make preparations for dinner. Edna says that she is going to go bathe and goes to the ocean. While she is standing there, she sees a bird with a broken wing. She puts her bathing suit on and then decides to take it off. She goes naked into the water and never comes back in. She had decided to kill herself to escape her responsibilities as a mother and wife.