Chapter 20
The Hunt for Connection
XX It was during such a mood that Edna hunted up Mademoiselle Reisz. She had not forgotten the rather disagreeable impression left upon her by their last interview; but she nevertheless felt a desire to see her—above all, to listen while she played upon the piano. Quite early in the afternoon she started upon her quest for the pianist. Unfortunately she had mislaid or lost Mademoiselle Reisz’s card, and looking up her address in the city directory, she found that the woman lived on Bienville Street, some distance away. The directory which fell into her hands was a year or…
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Key Quotes & Analysis
"knew Mademoiselle Reisz a good deal better than he wanted to know her, he informed his questioner."
Context: Grocery proprietor on Bienville Street
Community intimacy becomes rejection. Reisz is known and resented.
In Today's Words:
The grocer said he knew Reisz more than he wished. Difficult people are often famous locally before they are understood. At work, in caregiving, or in close relationships, the same pressure appears when duty outruns choice and someone finally names what they will no longer pretend is inevitable.
"most disagreeable and unpopular woman who ever lived in Bienville Street."
Context: Explaining why he is glad Reisz moved
Extreme language marks punishment for nonconformity. Dislike becomes badge of authenticity.
In Today's Words:
He called her the most disagreeable woman on the street. When everyone agrees someone is impossible, ask what rules they refused. At work, in caregiving, or in close relationships, the same pressure appears when duty outruns choice and someone finally names what they will no longer pretend is inevitable.
"if there had been a message for her, she would have received it."
Context: After Victor summarizes Robert's letters
Absence of direct address confirms emotional distance. She reads silence accurately.
In Today's Words:
She knew if Robert meant her he would have said so. Silence from someone who once filled your days is its own message. At work, in caregiving, or in close relationships, the same pressure appears when duty outruns choice and someone finally names what they will no longer pretend is inevitable.
"seem like the same woman."
Context: Madame Lebrun's remark to Victor after Edna leaves
Others see city air transforming her. Awakening alters carriage before story catches up.
In Today's Words:
Victor said the city improved her and she seemed unlike herself. Change often shows in posture before you announce it. At work, in caregiving, or in close relationships, the same pressure appears when duty outruns choice and someone finally names what they will no longer pretend is inevitable.
Thematic Threads
Authenticity
In This Chapter
Mademoiselle Reisz is universally disliked for being genuine and uncompromising, yet Edna seeks her out
Development
Building from earlier hints about artistic truth versus social performance
In Your Life:
You might find yourself drawn to the colleague everyone calls difficult but who actually speaks truth to power
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The community's unanimous rejection of anyone who doesn't conform to acceptable behavior
Development
Deepening from previous chapters showing how society punishes nonconformity
In Your Life:
You see this when family members get ostracized for refusing to enable toxic dynamics
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Edna's growing confidence in social situations and willingness to engage playfully with Victor
Development
Continuing her evolution from rigid social compliance to more natural self-expression
In Your Life:
You might notice yourself becoming more comfortable being genuine in conversations instead of performing a role
Identity
In This Chapter
Edna's disappointment at no special message from Robert reveals her need for meaningful connection
Development
Her emotional needs becoming clearer as she distances from conventional expectations
In Your Life:
You recognize when surface-level relationships no longer satisfy your need for deeper understanding
Class
In This Chapter
The power dynamics between Victor and the household staff that Edna observes with new awareness
Development
Her growing ability to see and analyze social hierarchies rather than just accepting them
In Your Life:
You start noticing how workplace hierarchies affect daily interactions and decision-making
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
What obstacles delay Edna's search for Reisz?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
Lost card, outdated directory, wrong tenants, and a grocer who will not share the new address gladly.
- 2
Why does universal dislike increase Edna's interest?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Rejection suggests Reisz lives outside performances Edna is shedding; obstacles sharpen hunger for her music.
- 3
What do Robert's letters reveal to Edna?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Family news and money, but nothing personal; she infers absence of feeling meant for her.
- 4
How does Victor treat Edna at the Lebrun house?
application • deepOne way to read it
He flirts, boasts, and swears her to secrecy, treating her as confederate while she half enjoys the attention.
- 5
When have you been warned away from someone who later helped you?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Like Edna toward Reisz, groups often exile the person who could teach what conformity hides.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Mademoiselle Reisz
Think of someone in your life who others consistently describe as difficult, disagreeable, or problematic. Write down what specific behaviors or attitudes make them unpopular. Then analyze: are they challenging real problems or just being genuinely difficult? What might you learn from them that others are missing?
Consider:
- •Separate the person's methods from their message - someone can be right about important things even if they're not diplomatic
- •Consider whether their 'difficulty' comes from refusing to enable dysfunction or calling out real problems
- •Ask yourself if seeking them out could provide perspective you're not getting from more popular voices
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you avoided someone because of their reputation, only to discover later that they had valuable insights or were addressing real issues others ignored.
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 21: The Music and the Letter
Edna climbs to Mademoiselle Reisz's cramped apartment above the street, where the pianist's playing hits her like a shock and a letter from Robert may be waiting in the next room.
