Edna Pontellier's Heroic Individualism In 'The Awakening'

Albert D. Saba

Mr. Amoroso

AP Literature

Period: 3AP

Topic: 1

LAP

The Awakening

A novel by

Kate Chopin

Will the chains and the unspoken pain unshackle through one’s heroic individualism? In the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Edna Pontellier becomes a heroic figure to herself as well as for women through the search of her self-identity. In the context of the late 1800s, it was very unusual for a female of that time to be as courageous and rebellious as Edna Pontellier portrayed. Edna Pontellier lived in a world where the free will of a woman was considered a fantasy. Thus, the dreamer Edna Pontellier began to uncover the possibilities of women after constant self-assessments initiating a spark to her awakening.

A flying motif also conveys Edna Pontellier, as the feeling of being stripped of her freedom by society continues to broaden. "A GREEN AND YELLOW parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door," (Pg.1)

Edna Pontellier possessed something rich and unworthy. Edna’s disregard for the individuals and society’s opinion did not force her to remain oppressed in the parrot’s cage nor become reluctant to the ocean. Edna’s heroic individualism liberated the chains that plagued her from flying and swimming into freedom and the discovery of Edna’s identity. All individuals experience various sorts of transitions in their life, whether it’s emotionally, physically, or mentally. It was Edna Pontellier’s journey of a thousand miles, new experiences and beginnings that led to the benefit of self- rule and sovereignty. The awakening of Edna Pontellier has undergone the ability to accept the end result of the turmoil situations, whether it was a negative or positive, it revealed Edna’s heroism. Despite Edna Pontellier’s nature of her particular situation (time period of the late 1800s) she expressed a great sum of bravery and valor. Edna Pontellier was a hero of her own