Symbolism And Symbolism In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

An important theme in Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening is the desire for some women to abandon their dull lives as only mothers and wives. In other words, solitude. The main character, Edna Pontellier is a woman with such desires. She has two sons with her husband, Leonce Pontellier, whom she would rather not be with. The theme mentioned earlier is seen all throughout the novel, by means of several different symbols, including birds. There are three examples of birds used within the story, two of which in the very first chapter. The story opens with a loud parrot repeating the phrase: ‘Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapriste!” (Chopin 1) This roughly translates to “Go away! Go away! For God’s sake!” These words

Nineteenth century, a century that urged women to attain a sense of self awareness and dignity. The Awakening, published in 1899, was labeled as morbid, disagreeable, and vulgar, which then went through a massive controversy that led to the book being widely condemned. “Modern critics praise The Awakening for its daring treatment of traditional gender roles as they were defined at the turn of the century, and for its exploration of a woman's search for self-fulfillment.” states Suzanne D. Green. Kate Chopin deliberately uses the theme of individualism vs. society to explain how the protagonist (Edna) rebels against society while incorporating still incorporating her antithesis, Madame

In first paragraph of the novel, Kate Chopin describes an image of a bird that is restrained from its freedom just as Edna feels held back from hers. “A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door...” (Chopin, pg#) There is symbolism behind the caged bird, which refers to Edna’s feelings of imprisonment. The bird symbolize Edna at home, a place she can’t escape from and has to live with under her husband’s “ruling”. There is a saying in Spanish that states

In the novel, the awakening by Kate Chopin the main character Edna Pontellier starts off as the wonderful wife who fulfills the role of a proper mother, but then explores her desires to find and live fully within her true self. Her involvement in finding her true self causes friction with her friends and family, and also conflicts with the expected values of women in her time. The author uses symbolism and setting to convey the meaning of true self. The story starts off when Edna Pontellier and her family take a trip to grand isle.

“Having added to American literature a novel uncommon in its kind as in its excellence, she deserves not to be forgotten. The Awakening, deserves to be restored and to be given its place among novels worthy of preservation”(Eble 82). Kenneth Eble is speaking of Kate Chopin in the quote above, revealing his opinion of her work. The topics mentioned by Chopin in The Awakening are highly controversial due to the time period. Nevertheless, Chopin creates an amazing structure in order to convey her message. Chopin intertwines different motifs and symbols throughout the novel in order to create meaning at the end of the novel. An important motif specific to the time period is isolation due to independence. One of the many symbols attached to this

For a person to be awakened, he or she must go through an experience that causes a sudden enlightenment in the area surrounding them. In the fictional novel The Awakening, written by Kate Choppin, the reader is taken along on the journey of a woman by the name of Edna Pontellier, who is trying to break free of the social guidelines of her time period. Mrs. Pontellier, the wife to a wealthy business man by the name of Leonce, begins to experience change not only with her physical wants but her mental desires as well. This unheard of change that Edna is going through truly is her awakening, is well described by the title of the book, and has an impact on her loved ones around her.

In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, there is a debate throughout the novel to whether someone, specifically a woman, can be strong enough to break conformity and tradition. Chopin illustrates this debate using birds to symbolize the difficulties and struggles to accomplish this feat. This relates to the meaning of the work because Chopin uses the symbolism of flight and wings as Edna’s means of strength and ability to break the mold. The Awakening begins with two birds that are being kept in cages hanging on a door.

Edna is isolated and trapped like those birds in the cage, by her husband, and she does not have any freedom to leave as she pleases. “You are burnt beyond recognition,” he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage” (Chopin p.24). Edna could not escape from her husband anywhere, even when they were at the ocean; “ I thought I should have perished out there alone”… “ You were not so very far, my dear; I was watching you,” he told her (50). Birds are the major symbol in this novel; they are mentioned through out the novel. In the beginning of the novel birds were saying;”Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! Thant’s all right!” (Chopin p.22); this means go away, go away, for God’s sake, in Spanish. It is clearly seen that the birds represent Edna’s unspoken words and feelings toward her husband. The author mentions a bird at the end of the novel as well; “A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water” (Chopin p. 138). This bird was free from the cage but had broken wing. This bird represents that no matter how Edna tried to fulfill her desires; she did accomplish them; however, Edna did not have strong wings to fly high enough in her life to maintain her freedom, her desires, and her independence in the society she lived.

Symbolism also plays an enormous role, birds, oceans, and sound are three different interpretations of Edna. Throughout the entire story, caged birds appear quite often resembling the trapped society of Mrs. Pontellier, it also serves as a reminder that she's caged like a bird wanting to escape and also the entrapment of women in that specific time. In the beginning, the parrot talking to Mr. Pontellier saying to leave in French represents as Edna’s

The novel’s locations of Grand Isle and New Orleans in the novel have a significant impact on Edna’s mental awakening. Grand Isle represents freedom from traditional norms. Edna finds herself in a relationship with Robert, a younger man who leads her to discover her inner self. Robert and the free spirit in the air on the island sparks an awakening in Edna. The ocean plays a significant role in Edna’s self realization, symbolizing freedom and strength. Chopin uses the ocean to provide Edna with opportunities and essentially rebirth, as it calls her towards its seaside. In Chapter 6 the reader learns the ocean’s impact on Edna, “The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander

Throughout the “Awakening” by Kate Chopin, has a much deeper meaning in the story, and it is shown by symbolism. These symbolic elements make the connection between Edna’s world, and her eventual awaking more effective. There are three common symbols that are used in the story are birds, houses, and the ocean and each means something different in the context of the story. The nature has an important impact, the birds represent freedom and the ability to fly but are also symbols for something that is strong yet gentle. Houses are where one resides and thus are reflections on the soul of the inhabitant. Edna has different homes is important because they reflect her changing state of mind. The ocean symbolizes freedom and the represents death

This was a great written story by Kate Chopin. I thought that the ending of this story was surprising for three reasons. First reason, I thought this because the priest had given Octavie a letter saying someone had died in the war. Also because how she felt after she read the letter. Last reason, because the locket was so important to Edmond

The stepping stones in Edna’s awakening can be seen through symbols: birds, clothes, and even the ocean. The symbols of caged birds in The Awakening represent Edna’s entrapment as a wife and mother, along with all of the other Victorian women. When Leonce is sitting by the parrots reading his newspaper, the parrot spoke, “a language which nobody understood” (Chopin 5). Edna, just like the parrot, can not be understood. Edna can not communicate her feelings with others, her feelings being the “language” that nobody

The story, The Awakening, is about Edna Pontellier’s internal conflict between her desire for independence and her need to remain a high-class member of society. When away on summer vacation Edna has the realization that she has control of her own life and begins to focus on her self and not what others think. During her awakening, Edna is faced with much resilience from her husband and friends and instead of becoming someone she is not, Edna Pontellier ends her own life as she sees it is her only option. The author, Kate Chopin, uses many characters to exemplify the conflicting ideals emerging in Edna; particularly Madame Ratignolle acts as a foil to Edna’s newfound persona, instead symbolizing the conservation of a traditional

This is represented by Madame Lebrun's parrot and mocking-bird. Mr. Pontellier is annoyed by the birds' incessant chatter. However, "they had the right to make all the noise they wished" (43). Edna is caged, and she is doing what ever she can to be free within her limits. Mr. Pontellier is upset by his wife's struggles for freedom. She allows herself to fall in love with Robert, and purchases her own house, despite the wishes of her husband. Just as the birds have no concern that their singing may bother those outside their cage, so Edna does not care that her actions may negatively affect others. Just before Edna kills herself, she sees a "bird with a broken wing...beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water" (175). Edna is this bird; disabled and heading to her death in the water. Her freedom is not total, and causes her death.