Robert Lebrun

Character Analysis

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Ah, Robert, you good-looking lover of married women.

What do we have to say about you? Let’s see…Robert is handsome, charming, and seems to have fallen in love with the beautiful Edna Pontellier. That’s Mrs. Pontellier to Robert, a fact of which he is all too aware. In fact, we learn that he has a thing for married hotties: maybe it's the thrill of the chase, or the thrill of the forbidden, or maybe he just likes rings.

Unfortunately for Robert, he ends up catching some feelings when it comes to Edna. This probably has a little something to do with the fact that their summer romance (strictly platonic, with some chaste hem-of-skirt touching) rekindles Edna's lust for life. She becomes pretty irresistible, thanks to a combo of flirtation, swimming, and a newfound love of painting. (Check out Edna's Character Analysis for more.)

Unwilling to further his relationship with a married woman, Robert leaves the country for Mexico, where he plans to make his fortune. This is our first clue that Robert is way more traditional than Edna—he wants to become a respectable rich man. (Our second clue is Robert’s purchase of an entire box of cigars.)

Upon his return, Robert and Edna finally declare their love for each other, but their happiness is cut short when they realize they want different things: Robert wants marriage while Edna wants independence.

"You have been a very, very foolish boy, wasting your time dreaming of impossible things when you speak of Mr. Pontellier setting me free! I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier's possessions to dispose of or not. I give myself where I choose. If he were to say, 'Here, Robert, take her and be happy; she is yours,' I should laugh at you both."

His face grew a little white. "What do you mean?" he asked. (36.42 - 43)

So Robert split for a second time, leaving behind a "Good-bye – because I love you" note.

What was Robert trying to say? Was he respecting her independence, realizing that she would never agree to be his wife? Or did he know he would be tempted to have an Arobin-style love affair with Edna, and didn’t want to go down that path? Or did Edna’s rejection of marriage turn him off?