Blog Assignment - "The Awakening"

One thing about the novel that I found interesting was how it explores the fine line between between taking care of your own needs and desires and taking care of the needs and desires of those that you care about. Upon her introduction to the Creole culture and through the development of her relationships with Adele, Robert and Madame Reisz, she was able to rediscover the dreams and interests that she had set aside for the benefit of her family. Although this new freedom made her more independent and allowed her to better enjoy her life, it also caused her to begin to neglect her responsibilities as a mother and wife. From a femenist standpoint, her refusal to perform the duties expected of her as a mother and wife show that she is independent and places a great deal of importance on her own self-development and happiness. Those are positive things- but from a practical view, I believe that she was wrong to completely neglect her responsibilities- especially her responsibility to her children. All in all, Edna was simply a woman whose beliefs were before her time and her suicide and selfish behavior were both the products of the mixture of sadness, guilt and confusion she experienced throughout her life.

Question:
What causes Edna to become so distant from her family? What does her family and her obligations to her family members represent?