Edna Pontellier is Chopin’s main female protagonist in “The Awakening”. The use of water as a dominant symbol in the book will be dissected in this essay, as well as Edna’s independence throughout the novel which is a reflection of her failing marriage, and how her final act of independence and self identity is made through water which releases her from the bonds of a patriarch society and by extension her relationship with her husand.
Edna Pontellier, the main character of “The Awakening” is limited by her class location; nevertheless she breaks it and behaves as an independent woman. The author shows that to ‘woman’s mission’ is to offer society the benefits of the domestic model: to bridge the gulf between the two classes of rich and poor, to perform kindnesses which would transform mutinous sentiments into grateful ones, and to refashion the lower orders in the image of their betters. But these expectations contained many contradictory elements.
As the most important, the female writers represent the social class as an “iron cage” for women. The authors portray that everything depends upon class location of the characters: their social life, wealth and respect which is a reflection of who they marry. For instance, Kate Chopin underlines that position of Leonce Pontellier is closely connected with the idea that business shapes a man. For instance, when Edna decides to leave him “he was not dreaming of scandal. He was simply thinking of his financial integrity” (Chopin, 1995).
The Essay on The Differences Between Adele And Edna In Chopins The Awakening
The Differences Between Adele and Edna in Chopin's The Awakening The characters of Edna Pontellier and Adele Ratignolle in Kate Chopin's Awakening represent two psychologically different types of women, as seen in 19th century those that were content with the traditional role of housewives, subscribed to them by the society, and the small minority of predecessors of modern feminism, whose ...
Thus, it does not seem that romance is a part of the marriage between these two characters. Edna’s awakening begins with Adele Ratignolle. Taking into account upper class values, it was impossible for a woman to have physical desire and longing. Edna’s first attraction to Adele is physical: ‘the excessive physical charm of the Creole had first attracted her, for Edna had a sensuous susceptibility to beauty’ (Chopin, 1995).
It is not then a romantic love which attracts Edna to Adele but a more physical desire.
Edna seems fated to reenact social rituals, even though, as Chopin recounts these scenes, she satirizes and revises their conventions. Ironically, considering her determination to discard the trappings of her role as a society matron her wedding ring, her ‘reception day’, her ‘charming home’ the high point of Edna’s awakening is the dinner party she gives for her twenty-ninth birthday. Edna thinks of her marriage as a mistake, the text makes it clear that Edna has married her husband, primarily because he was handsome and differed greatly from other men.
Taking into account this situation, symbolically, the author depicts that marriage and social class become a prison for Edna which prevents her to obtain equal position and equal rights with men. Edna wants to have the same rights as men have and to be equal with them. She seems to have believed that men and women alike have great difficulty reconciling their need to live as discrete individuals. These conflicting needs lie at the center of the story. In sum, the author depicts that class position had a great influence on every aspect of life: economic and social.
Upper classes can be economically independent which means that they can speak their mind and it would not cost them anything if they offended someone (Baldridge, 158).
The Research paper on Reader Understand Edna Chopin Tone
Kate Chopin's The Awakening Kate Chopin's The Awakening Essay, Research Paper Kate Chopin's The Awakening Portrayal of the character Edna Her foils Setting- feminist moment, etc. Style Intended to help the reader understand the character of Edna her actual beliefs external / internal influences Tone Helping the style, the tone also helps the reader understand the rest of the characters Mr. ...
Chopin depicts evolution of spirit and will of the female characters. The development of the characters reflects inner psychological state of the heroines and helps readers to grasp the idea at once, to follow plot development and conflict resolution. The evolution and changing role of women is forced by inner struggle and great desire to be free from social norms and prejudice.
The changing role for Edna, as is depicted in “The Awakening” is witnessed through her final act of suicide, or an act that is completely contrived by her, and executed by her; thus, independence, full independence from anyone. It is water that is the catalyst in this case, and it is water which purifies Edna at the end of the story, and baptizes her into her true self, and rids her of all of the contrary natures shoved onto her by her husband and society.
Thus, the symbol of water works in the novel as a device which allows Edna a full identity, away from marriage and romantic love.
Works Cited
Baldridge, J. Victor. Sociology: A Critical Approach to Power, Conflict, and Change. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1975. Chopin, K. The Awakening. 1995. 2007. <www. onlinebooks. library. upenn. edu/ webbin/gutbook/lookup? num=160> Pontuale, F. Kate Chopin: A Study of the Short Fiction. The Mississippi Quarterly. Vol. 52. 1998. Simons, K. Kate Chopin on the Nature of Things. The Mississippi Quarterly Vol. 51. 1998.
