Mademoiselle Reisz is first introduced playing piano at a party, unlike typical women as she is distant, reserved, and unmarried. She feels a connection to Edna and only cares for Edna's opinion when she plays for her. Reisz influences Edna to become more independent, as Edna starts becoming like Reisz through her art. Reisz showed Edna that independence for women comes from living according to their passions, not society's expectations.