A fashionable young man notorious for his relationships with married women. He courts Edna aggressively. His mixture of coyness and sincerity both repels and fascinates her, and they become close friends. Edna is attracted to Arobin, but does not love him. It’s implied that they eventually become lovers, though the book does not describe anything more explicit than a kiss.
Alcée Arobin Quotes in The Awakening
The The Awakening quotes below are all either spoken by Alcée Arobin or refer to Alcée Arobin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 27
Quotes
It was the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded. It was a flaming torch that kindled desire.
Related Characters:
Edna Pontellier, Alcée Arobin
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Alcée Arobin Character Timeline in The Awakening
The timeline below shows where the character Alcée Arobin appears in The Awakening. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 25
...or sits at home and broods. She often goes to the horse races with Alcée Arobin, a popular and somewhat notorious young man famous for seducing married women, and Mrs. Highcamp,...
(full context)
...racing from her father, so her first time at the races she bets very successfully. Arobin becomes infatuated with her. Dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Highcamp and Arobin that night is...
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A few days later, Arobin comes to visit her alone; she can’t think of an acquaintance to chaperone them, so...
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Chapter 26
Arobin sends her a romantic letter of apology; to downplay its significance, Edna answers as though...
(full context)
Chapter 27
That night, Arobin notices her unusually good mood. She enjoys the careless way he touches her hair and...
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Chapter 28
Edna cries when Arobin leaves. She feels assailed by her husband in the form of the house around her,...
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Chapter 29
...her things and cleans and decorates the new house with the help of her servants. Arobin comes to visit her as she does work in the new house, and insists on...
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Chapter 30
Out of the eleven invited, nine attend Edna’s party: Arobin, Mademoiselle Reisz, Mrs. Highcamp, Monsieur Ratignolle, Victor Lebrun, and two couples—Mr. and Mrs. Merriman, a...
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...her hand over his mouth, he kisses it passionately. Soon, all the other guests (except Arobin) drift home.
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Chapter 31
When they are alone, Edna tells Arobin that she is ready to leave for her new home. She lets him bring her...
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Chapter 33
...with a social visit. She advised Edna not to spend so much time alone with Arobin—people had been gossiping about them. Then Mrs. Highcamp and Mrs. Merriman visited her and invited...
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...decides to stay when he sees her dismay. He asks jealously about a photograph of Arobin on her living room table, and she explains that she had been sketching his head....
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Chapter 34
...from a Mexican girl, and Robert assures her that she is not important to him. Arobin stops by with a message, and Robert quickly leaves.
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Edna decides not to go to Mrs. Merriman’s card game, and Arobin agrees to mail her note of apology. She refuses Arobin’s invitation to go for a...
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Chapter 35
...of her future friendship with Robert. She receives letters from her son, her husband, and Arobin. She answers her husband, who had written to say he would take her on a...
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...always hopes that he might come, but eventually she gives up expecting him. She lets Arobin take her out and receives his attentions with indifference.
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