Edna, as well, can only transform herself into death. Edna is not abandoned by Alcee. Rather Robert reappears and renews her hope of some consummation with him, her true love, and then abruptly abandons her because, as he says, "I love you." Edna’s reality becomes equally shattering; not in a desperate emotional frenzy, but calmly as she realizes that Alcee would be the first in a line of meaningless lovers, that the true love she wanted with Robert could, paradoxically, never be. Robert would not, and will not, compromise appearance or convention to be with her. Actually, Edna has a much greater grasp of reality in the end. She knows why she must die, and it is not because of shame or debt. She recognizes her own weakness – her own inability to soar on wings – and she relieves this world of one unable to fly by quietly, silently floating out to sea.

First, the paragraph is only about Edna Pontellier. Hence, it is a lump. This ‘lump’ was placed here because often student writers become tired towards the end of the paper and revert back to this inferior structure.

Secondly, there is nothing in this paragraph that could be called specific detail. Again, students grow weary at the end of a poorly-planned paper and begin to dash off vague or sweeping generalizations rather than working to recall or retreive, (or reread!) specific details from the work.

To fix this pp, concepts from both novels should be discussed point-counterpoint. Refer back to previous paragraphs for examples.

Also, mention of specific details for each statement or generalization would greatly improve this pp. For example, Robert left a letter on the night stand, which Edna found when she returned from attending the birth of Madame Ratignolle’s child.