also thinks the language that describes Mrs. Pontellier in her husbands eyes is complimented well with Chopin's own descriptions...

...for instance, when Leonce sees that she has been sunburnt, he surveys her as if she is her property....

...then in the very next sentence, Chopin describes her hands as "strong and shapely" to counteract her husband's assessment...

...he sees her as vulnerable but she is indeed a strong person.