Kate Chopin develops Edna’s character so rigorously, she creates a whole new character by the end of the novel. Edna’s feat of overcoming her fears reveals the powerful message of being brave and finding
Specifically, a person is defined by a sense of despair if one loses hope in their ability to exist (Copleston 30). Within the novel, Edna’s angst and frustration evolve into dread and despair as she realizes that she is unable to live in a manner that she pleases. Further, Chopin uses the ocean as a symbol to represent the pinnacle of Edna’s dread by altering the sea’s typical symbolic value from cleansing to death. For instance, at the start of the novel, Edna is ecstatic to go to the beach, seeing the opportunity to swim as cleansing. Chopin writes: “The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace” (Chopin 25).
It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood” (Chopin 10). This shows an obvious neglect of her duties as a mother woman. Edna even testified that she did not enjoy the role by saying, ““Feeling secure regarding their happiness and welfare, she did
Edna is only able to break free of tradition to be happy if she does not break her spirit down in the process. Chopin uses the symbolism of a bird with broken wings to represent the toll taken on those who choose to bear
Edna fully understands that society would brand her as a terrible woman, but she does not view herself as a bad person. There is an external and internal difference that Edna hopes to one day reconcile. Chopin, instead of creating tension within Edna, created tension within the society and Edna with her newfound independence does not mind how society classifies her. Decisively, it can be concluded that the tension between outward conformity and inward questioning builds the meaning of the novel by examining Edna’s role as a wife, mother, and as nontraditional woman in the traditional Victorian period.
She found a way to exist outside of the roles society had sets for her. In addition, Mademoiselle Reisz is not shy or bubbly, but is rather unpleasant. For all these reasons, Edna finds herself drawn to her, the old independent musician. She is the only character in the novel who seems to understand what Edna is trying to accomplish, because she was also a woman of the creole’s society after all, and had already chosen a path of her own "...when I left her today, she put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong enough she said. ' The bird that would soar above the level of plain tradition and prejudice must have strong wings'"
Chopin describes Edna “taking off her wedding ring” and “[stamping] her heel upon it, striving to crush it. But her small boot heel did not make an indenture, not a mark upon the little glittering circlet.(103), displaying that she does not possess the tools as society has only given her a “small boot heel” or the strength of character to break from the confines of her identity as a woman in society. Additionally, through highlighting the image of the undiminished ring“glittering” ring, Chopin visually illustrates the unbroken circle of her personal
Edna begins as a wife unsatisfied with her married life and responsibilities as a mother. This entrapment is symbolized as a green and yellow parrot in a cage that has the right to make all the fuss it wants, although still stuck in a cage, void of the interactions that it longs for. The confines of Edna’s marriage are preventing her from flying out into the world so she can experience it for herself. Edna must escape from her caged existence and find her wings in order to soar. Building strength as an independent woman, Edna finds great value in her relationship with Mademoiselle Reisz who is an artist and inspirational female figure to Edna.
1. Quote: “As she swam she seemed to be reaching out for the unlimited in which to lose herself” (31). Literary/Style Elements: Metaphor Commentary: Chopin evokes the emotion of breaking free, or losing oneself within Edna for the reader to understand that the sea or ocean resembles the sense of renewal. Edna being connected to the unlimited reach uses the metaphorical representation for her to comprehend that she achieve things strictly to please herself. Additional Ideas: This metaphor sets the mood in the novel, that it will be used to allow people or Edna more specifically to be happy.
“ Symbols Brids The parrot in the beginning and the mockingbird are symbolic of communication (between Edna and Reisz) and the birds ability to understand each other Edna moves out of her house with Leonce into the pigeon house as a way to gain more freedom Reisz tells Edna if she wants to fly she will need strong wings, or else she will plummet to the ground The Sea
Her frequent vacations to the island, like her frequent dips into the ocean, begin to spark a personal change within the woman. A Creole man, Robert, shows Edna a new dimension of feelings she never knew she lived without, and she begins to look through life through a new lens. Having been awakened for the first time, she sees injustice and mistreatment where she saw none before. Chopin uses Edna’s new observations and reactions to the culture around her to illustrate the myriad ways women were marginalized. In an ironic twist, the white woman from Kentucky proves to be more liberated than her more traditional husband, who grew up
First, Edna is initially symbolized by the caged green-and-yellow parrot because like the bird she is confined. At the start of the book, the parrot shrieks and swears at Mr.Pontellier. Chopin writes, “A GREEN AND yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over: ‘Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en!
(Chapter 3) In a later chapter, Chopin mentions the Edna being ”charged with the seductive odor of the sea” and “The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embraces.” to strengthen the idea of the sea’s voice calling out to her and saying it can help Edna become free from oppression. (Chapter 4)
Allez vous-en! Sapristi!” (1) (Go away! Go away! For God’s sake).
Birds were always involved with any moment of significance, and they helped readers see what characters struggle with. The night of Edna’s awakening, an owl was depicted sitting in a tree. At a piano performance, where Edna awakens more, a parrot is mentioned in the text. All of these bird motifs pushed and stressed a specific theme. To distance oneself from expectation and societal norms one will sacrifice.
