ipl-logo

Sound In The Awakening

695 Words3 Pages

The Awakening by Kate Chopin ends with the protagonist reliving old memories and eventually entering the ocean to drown herself. However, this ending does not feel like an ending for this character, instead it feels like a new beginning of awakening. This effect happens through the use of indicative diction, symbolic imagery, and alluring sound. This ending is seen as a new beginning or awakening for the protagonist through indicative diction. The protagonist claims that her children were like “antagonists,” plotting against her and put her in “soul’s slavery.” The use of these phrases indicates that they were making her life terrible, and captivating her like a slave. However, she then says she found a way to “elude them,” running away from …show more content…

The author makes it seem like the ocean wants the protagonist to enter into her own demise through the sound of the soft ‘s’. The voice of the sea is said to be “seductive, never ceasing, whispering” to the “soul”, inviting it to the “abysses of solitude.” The ‘s’ sound creates a peaceful, sensuous feeling, which is in a sense inviting and calming. The author masks the true meaning for this phrase with the ‘s’ sound, however it indicates that the sea wants the protagonist to enter in order to never leave because the abyss of solitude is a phrase for death. To some, death is seen as a new beginning because one gets to either experience new things, or be reincarnated into a new body. Additionally, the protagonist claims that the touch of the sea is “sensuous” in its “soft, close embrace.” This further repeating of the ‘s’ sound also shows that the sea is alluring her into entering. The author creates the sea to seem calm and peaceful, making nobody know the true violent nature of it. This is an awakening because the protagonist enters the sea, which represents a baptism, and never leaves. She instead stays and recalls all her memories, but realizes she does not want to live them anymore, and rather live her own life. She is awakened through the sea, in its attempts to lure her in and capture

Show More
Related

  • Ocean Symbolism In Brave New World

    1207 Words  | 5 Pages

    Whereas as the beginning of the novel the ocean represented cleansing and excitement, Edna now views the sea as her only escape from her limited form in society. Thus, through an existential lens, the symbolic meaning of the sea changes throughout the story as Edna realizes her inability to overcome contemporary definitions of feminism and is forced to seek closure to her despair by turning to the sea one last

    Read More

  • Juxtaposition In The Awakening

    999 Words  | 4 Pages

    Chopin is widely known for the support of female independence and self-fulfillment, and in her most influential and famous work, The Awakening, she depicts Edna’s desire to explore and find her true self, which was often condemned in Chopin's time period as it was against societal standards. In Chopin’s writing, she incorporates plentiful amounts of figurative languages to portray Edna’s rebellion which include symbolism, foreshadowing, and juxtaposition. Out of the many methods Chopin used to depict Edna’s rebellion, the sea was a very prominent allegory to represent her freedom, rebirth, and her escape from expectations in society. The sea helps Edna achieve her desires and pushes her to see the potential to fill her life with excitement

    Read More

  • How Does Chopin Use Birds In The Awakening

    961 Words  | 4 Pages

    Waves of warm salty air fills the island of Grand Isle as Edna Pontellier and other Creole vacationers settle in. Time coming and going as romantic affairs interfere with the lost love of Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier. Continuous disregard to the roles of a wife, mother, and social aspect to the public, set intentionally. Action and consequences made to overall, achieve the dream of independence. In The Awakening by Kate Chopin, the use of birds and houses are symbols that illustrate the desire for freedom under the pressure of society rule.

    Read More

  • Spiritual Change In The Awakening

    746 Words  | 3 Pages

    The quote “The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from their readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events--a marriage or a last minute rescue from death--but some kind of spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death” by British novelist Fay Weldon relates to the ending of The Awakening in how Edna’s final views and thoughts of herself and her life have evolved throughout the novel. Edna undergoes a significant change in attitude, behavior, and overall character. Edna’s rebellion against societal norms seems to be more intrinsically motivated rather than by extrinsic forces. Throughout the course of the novel, Edna struggles with her inner thoughts, feelings, and becoming her true self rather than just living the expected lifestyle of a typical upper class housewife.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between The Awakening And Childhood's Retreat

    199 Words  | 1 Pages

    The awakening by Kate Chopin and the poem “Childhood’s Retreat” hold many similarities. The awakening by Kate Chopin is a novel that takes place in the late 1800s that represents the awakening desires of a women by the name of Edna Pontellier. “Childhood’s Retreat” is about a young child who trying to escape his everyday problems by going to their safe haven. The Awakening and “Childhood’s Retreat” hold many similarities in their setting, narrative and theme.

    Read More

  • What Does Water Symbolize In The Awakening

    946 Words  | 4 Pages

    The freeing sense of a bird’s flight and the vast expanse of the ocean’s opportunity are both liberating concepts for someone who feels trapped. Edna Pontellier in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening over time starts to feel trapped in her marriage and the social standards that come along with being a mother during the late 1800s. She starts to gain more freedom and independence as she searches for love with other men, particularly Robert Lebrun. Along with this journey for love and freedom, symbols of flight and water are presented to represent her evolution as a woman.

    Read More

  • The Awakening Dialectical Journal Essay

    1120 Words  | 5 Pages

    Dialectal Journal; The Awakening (Kate Chopin) Motif- The Sea Quote Literary/Style Elements Commentary Additional Ideas “There was no sound abroad except the hooting of an old owl in the top of a water-oak, and the everlasting voice of the sea, that was not uplifted at that soft hour.” (7) Personification Chopin’s use of personification demonstrates how the sea provides a feeling of comfort. The soft hour helps to communicate the feeling of comfort as Chopin tries to show how the setting of the sea is calming.

    Read More

  • Water In The Awakening

    595 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening”, the main character, Edna Pontellier, becomes awakened to herself, her need for nonconformity, and her strength through water and the sea. The water and sea serves a multitude of everyday purposes such as swimming, bathing, and drinking. However, Edna’s experiences with water are extremely symbolic, “awakening” her as a woman(48). In her first experience of swimming- in which she had “attempted all summer to learn”-she grew “overconfident” and “wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before” (47).

    Read More

  • Ocean Symbolism In The Awakening

    925 Words  | 4 Pages

    The images of birds and the ocean are used to show the harsh standards placed on Edna and other women in the nineteenth century. As illustrated in The Awakening, the ocean is a symbol of rebirth and revival. While at Grand Isle, Edna is one of the only vacationers who can not swim. The water is as unfamiliar to Edna as her neighbors’ culture and way of openly expressing themselves.

    Read More

  • At Mornington Poem Analysis

    478 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the first stanza, Harwood tells about a memory that was told to her by someone else. It was a memory of her father taking her to the beach. The uncertain tone in the first half of the first stanza and the definite tone in the second half of the stanza emphasises the importance of the emotions she felt at the time of the event rather what happened. The imagery of the beach is portrayed as fearful - ‘sea’s edge’ can represent the danger of life and mystery

    Read More

  • The Symbolism Of Water In Homegoing By Yaa Gyasi

    828 Words  | 4 Pages

    This moment is paramount because the ocean serves as the antithesis of the recurring fire motif which sets forth the chain of events that unfold throughout the novel. Gyasi writes, “It’s not just because I’m scared of drowning. Though I guess I am. It’s because of all that space. It’s because everywhere I look, I see blue, and I have no idea where it begins.

    Read More

  • Moment Of Awareness In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    1210 Words  | 5 Pages

    Awakening In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve experienced a sudden moment of realization, they become aware of themselves and their surroundings. This “awareness” led to their demise and created a door for sin. Likewise, the main character in the novel “The Awakening” experiences a sudden moment of awareness. Like many women of her time, she tried to follow the tracks laid out for her, trying to please the eyes of the people.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Individuality In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    425 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Awakening is a novel written by Kate Chopin that follows a woman named Edna Pontellier on her journey to self-awareness. Edna lived a comfortable lifestyle with her husband and two children in Louisiana during the 19th century. Despite obtaining all aspects to a perfect life, Edna became dissatisfied after meeting Robert Lebrun in Grand Isle. Robert sparked a desire for unlawful lust as well as a yearning for independence in a society full of conformed standards. Edna was unable to handle the pressures associated with achieving personal freedom which ultimately led to her death.

    Read More

  • And Symbolism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Ocean'

    737 Words  | 3 Pages

    Have you ever swam in the ocean? Ever fought against the waves? Have you ever felt its intensity?? Oceans can be quite treacherous and rigid, but once you sink down beneath the water, all is calm and peaceful. In “The Ocean” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, he paints an image of this by illustrating the waters and the men at sea.

    Read More

  • Gothic Elements In Rebecca

    1113 Words  | 5 Pages

    The rambunctious sea is an important element in the novel, it forebodes for evil and help to establish the sense anxiety . 31 “ I could see the sea from the terrace, and the lawns. It looked grey and uninviting, great rollers sweeping into the bay past the beacon on the headland” (R.,P.130). The sea carries a great secret; the secret of Rebecca’s boat is in the bottom of it . So, as people’s mood is reflected on their behavior , the sea is treated as a person whose mood is reflected on [his] behavior, the sea behaves wildly and hits the waves to reflect the horror that [he] witnesses and the big burden [he] carries and signaling a warning to the strangers .

    Read More

More about Sound In The Awakening

Open Document