# Léonce Pontellier — The Awakening character guide > Léonce Pontellier in The Awakening by Kate Chopin. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Pontellier, Pontellier, that dear Mr. Pontellier, Léonce **First appearance:** 0001-ii ## Snapshot A prosperous New Orleans broker who loves his wife in the manner of a man who has never had to consider whether she is happy. ## Who they are Léonce manages his household as he manages his affairs, with an eye to what looks well and runs smoothly, and he is genuinely puzzled when his wife stops performing her part. He is not cruel, only incurious, and his Saturday visits to Grand Isle are full of questions about Robert's prospects rather than Edna's silences. His baffled, conventional kindness becomes the measure of everything Edna is quietly refusing. ## Relationships ### [Edna Pontellier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/characters/edna_pontellier) _family_ Léonce is Edna's conventional, neglectful husband who views her as property, fueling her desire for freedom. ### [Edna Pontellier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/characters/edna_pontellier) _family_ Léonce is Edna's conventional, neglectful husband who views her as property, fueling her desire for freedom. ## In the story ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/i) Irritated by the birds, reads the newspaper; views Edna as a valuable possession; leaves to play billiards. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as having gone to Klein's with New Orleans club men; not present during the conversation. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/iii) Returns from Klein's hotel in high spirits, reproaches Edna for neglecting Raoul's fever, and insists on his authority as a husband and father. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/iv) Mr. Pontellier feels his wife fails in her duty toward their children, though he cannot define it; he regrets voicing the feeling and makes amends. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as Edna's husband; their marriage is described as an accident, and Edna reflects on her affection for him. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/ix) Present at the gathering, he dances with Edna and brings comic papers for the children. ### [The Awakening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/x) Walks ahead with Edna, watches her swim, and later comments on her capriciousness to Madame Lebrun. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xi) Tries to command and then entreat Edna to come inside, growing irritated and finally smoking and drinking on the gallery. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xiv) Had been uneasy about Edna but was dissuaded from crossing the bay; went to Klein's on business. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xvi) Visits Grand Isle after Robert's departure; reports meeting Robert in New Orleans and discusses Robert's prospects in Mexico. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xvii) Returns home to find Edna absent from her reception; criticizes her for neglecting social duties and the poorly prepared dinner, then leaves for his club. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xviii) Asks Edna to meet him for new library fixtures, comments on her pale appearance, and handles the cook's blunders. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xix) Mr. Pontellier is bewildered and angered by Edna's new behavior, suspecting she may be mentally unbalanced. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxii) Visits Doctor Mandelet to express concern over Edna's changed behavior and seeks advice. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxiii) Notices Edna's attentiveness to her father, disapproves of horseracing, and engages in a dispute with the Colonel, later warming up over dinner. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxiv) Declines to interfere with Edna, follows Doctor Mandelet's advice, leaves for New York to attend the wedding. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxv) Edna remembers she forgot to write to her husband and composes a letter in her mind, though she feels distant from him. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxvi) Edna writes to her husband about her intention to move and her farewell dinner. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxviii) His reproach is felt by Edna through the external things he provided for her. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxix) Not present in the chapter; Edna acts without waiting for his opinion or wishes. ### [The Dinner Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxx) Not present at the dinner, but his gift of diamonds is mentioned. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxxii) Writes a letter of disapproval but arranges renovations and a public notice to save appearances. ### [Chapter XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxxiii) Mentioned as being absent; Edna's moving is discussed. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxxv) Sends a letter to Edna about his return and plans for a journey abroad, which she answers with friendly evasiveness. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/chapters/xxxix) Edna reflects that he and the children are part of her life but cannot possess her. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/characters/leonce_pontellier - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_awakening_se/characters