Bird Symbolism In The Awakening

Awake and Aware
Birds are symbols of freedom flying high above society's grasp, unlike Edna Pontellier in The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Edna and her husband Leonce Pontellier vacation at Grand Isle, a high society island in New Orleans. Robert Lebrun innocently dedicates himself to a different woman every summer and Edna peaks his interest as she attempts to break away from the social confines she is enveloped in. As Edna and Robert become infatuated, she also begins to search for self liberation and is surrounded by the ocean and birds in her journey to self discovery. The recurring symbolism of birds and the ocean demonstrate the progression of Edna Pontellier’s freedom. Birds and flight represent Edna’s liberation from traditional gender

Women are expected to be devoted to their husbands and content fulfilling domestic responsibilities. Edna feels misunderstood like the parrot in the cage but has accepted her life of monotony until she meets Robert who is enticed by her distaste for a traditional life. As she becomes infatuated with Robert, Mademoiselle Reisz becomes an influential figure in her life. Mademoiselle Reisz is an independent older woman and pianist whose music inspires Edna. She seemingly understands Edna's struggles to break the boundaries of her quintessential life but warns her “the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth” (Chopin 112). The bird Mademoiselle Reisz is referencing is symbolic of Edna's developing strength and heightening journey to independence but foreshadows Edna's inevitable downfall back into society's grasp. Edna endeavors to break societal confines convinced she can escape her husband's control and find freedom with Robert; Slowly, she begins to realize the impossibility of her desires.

Edna is initially fearful of the ocean and cannot swim in the deep water despite her friends' valiant attempts to teach and persuade her. Edna’s detachment from the ocean represents her initially content with her lifestyle and role in society. She is regarded as very fortunate for her high class status and luxurious lifestyle provided by Leonce. At a lavish party with her high society friends Edna overcomes her swimming struggles as “A feeling of exultation [overtakes] her, as if some power of significant import [is given to] her to control the working of her body and her soul…She [wants] to swim far out, where no woman had swum before” (Chopin PN). Edna understanding how to swim is representative of a rebirth of her mindset into a new woman; She feels great power having control over her body and mind while swimming. The farther she swims the more control she feels as she breaks away from the others at the party although she eventually returns to shore and reunites with her husband. As Edna begins to frequent the Gulf, she also starts to defy her husband, no longer obeying his commands; She begins to distance herself from her children feeling less passionate about her maternal and marital obligations with her new mindset of self empowerment. Slowly, Edna becomes more aware of her diminishing role in society because despite her own mindset of self power, society does not reciprocate this understanding.