In reading the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, I took an interest in Robert Leburn. His character is questionable because he has spent many summers in the isle flirting and spending his time with a different woman each summer even though they were married. He tries flirting in a way that is so blatantly obvious that he is implicitly referring to himself on many occasions — for example, when he talks to Edna about the ghost that returns to the isle every year waiting for a woman to win his heart. He also does not follow through on anything he says he will, as is the case in his money-making trip to Mexico. When he does genuinely realize that he is in love with Edna and he returns to New Orleans, he still can not be true to himself because he is afraid of what the social and personal consequences will be if they are truly together. Overall, I question him as a person but I think that was the goal that Kate Chopin had in writing him.
I definitely agree with your analysis of Robert. Throughout the book, it is very clear that Robert is young. He’s younger than Edna, and she’s only 28. I agree that his flakiness is deliberate on Kate Chopin’s part. That could be seen as a representation of his age, as throughout the novel that could be forgotten. With how he feels toward Edna, how do you think he’d react to the news of her killing herself? Do you think he’d blame himself or the situation of their love?
I also found the character of Robert very interesting in this book! He is very mysterious and almost suspicious in certain aspects. I like that you pointed out him being concerned about what others will think of his relationship with Edna if he allows that to develop. I thought this was interesting because Edna is the one that is cheating on her husband, yet Robert is more concerned about them being together than she is.