Throughout the story of The Awakening, the author romanticizes the image of a woman who is committed to her tasks servants and remains faithful to her husband; however, Edna does not fit this role as she chooses individuality over conformity. In the late 1800s and even early 1900s, women felt discriminated against by men and by society in general. Women were expected to live up to the perfect image created by society, while trying to conform to the desires of their husbands. Men generally held discriminatory and stereotypical views towards women, such that women felt like they had no control over themselves and were seen as nothing more than a property for men. Just like in society, in the story of The Awakening, Edna's husband used her as a way to acquire extra money for himself. He uses his status in society to make deals with other women's husbands; therefore, his presence at home was only crucial when visitors came because, as Chopin says, "he found it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, showed so little interest in the things that concerned him and so little appreciated his conversation” (9). Chopin directly states that Edna was the only person in her husband's existence because in reality, the deals she helped to make provided the necessary funds for the business.