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Theme Of Symbolism In The Awakening

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In her novel, The Awakening, Kate Chopin captures the interest of readers with the use of symbolism. The storyline details a time when women had strict expectations of what they should and should not do. The main character, Edna Pontellier, has a desire to change the role that society expected of her, but this view is not accepted very well. Throughout the story, Chopin uses symbolism to skillfully progress the theme of how Edna is struggling to change and be independent and happy with her life. Symbolism is specifically utilized throughout the novel with Edna’s houses, birds, the sea, and swimming. Symbolism can be seen in the houses where Edna lives. While the story seems to take place mostly on the Grand Isle in the Gulf of Mexico and in …show more content…

From the first chapter of the book, there is a returning presence of birds. Chopin specifically points out how the first bird is caged. This imprisonment is symbolic of how Edna will soon start to feel. Furthermore, when this parrot swears loudly, it reflects Edna’s feelings. Chopin continues with a paralleling reflection through the birds with the mockingbird. This bird, like the first, is caged and is a direct reflection of what Edna begins to feel next. Moreover, the mockingbird is the only one who can understand the parrot as they both speak Spanish. Through this bird, communication is symbolic of how Mademoiselle is the only one who understands Edna. “Finally, while the birds represent Edna’s conflict with Leonce, Robert, and society, they also depict Edna’s final position in society, her entrapment” (Elz). At the end of the story, Chopin introduces another bird when Edna is beginning to descend into the sea. This bird was obviously injured and having problems flying, but was not caged this time. Symbolically, this bird represents Edna with her belief that she was broken, but not caged anymore (Schraufnagel). “All along the white beach, up and down, there was no living thing in sight. A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water” (Chopin 127). Edna feels troubled, broken, and all alone. Birds are used symbolically to show Edna’s trapped feelings in her role in society, her communication abilities, and her broken

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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)

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Kate Chopin created a very complex character named Edna Pontellier in her novel The Awakening. Mrs. Pontellier is peculiar because her thoughts are consistently drury and she is insatiable. Chopin uses many different strategies to develop Mrs. Pontellier’s character such as imagery but the most prominent strategy is symbolism. Symbols featured in the story include birds, two lovers, a widow, and water. Whenever water appears in a story or novel it can often represent baptism, rebirth, and/or death.

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Plot Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier are on their summer vacation at Grand Isle. There, Edna has an affair with Robert which starts her awakening. From then on, she goes into a rebirth and takes actions in

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Chopin’s focuses were to show through these objects and literary symbols, the social injustices that women were going through. “The Awakening” begins with a parrot in a cage, which is supposed to be a representation of women of that time period. Just like parrots, women were annoying and were only displayed for their beauty. Moreover, women were trapped in cages which caused them to not be free. Since women were not free they remained trapped and imposed to the roles that society had labeled and stereotyped them to be.

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The Awakening; a Woman's Fight Women’s rights have drastically improved since the 1800’s. The model of patriarchy was widely accepted as a social norm in America and many other countries until the early to mid 1900’s. Today women are still fighting the belittlement that the patriarchal model deemed acceptable. The character of the rebellious strong women is still one today that many women look up to; especially women in very oppressive middle east countries. In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, Chopin strives to argue social emancipation for women

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This novel, The Awakening, is about a woman named Edna Pontellier learns to think of herself as an independent human being. Also, Edna Pontellier refuses to obey against the social norms by leaving her husband Leónce Pontellier and having an affair with Robert Lebrun. Kate Chopin describes societal expectations and the battle of fitting the mold of motherhood in the Awakening by how Edna Pontellier and Adele Ratignolle contribute to their family in different ways. Edna Pontellier’s attitude toward motherhood is that she is not a perfect mother-women. Adele Ratignolle’s attitude toward motherhood is that she is a perfect mother-women.

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Chopin ties the bird falling back to all previous bird related symbolism, especially when Mademoiselle Reisz checks out Edna’s wings. This final mention of birds is extremely significant. Throughout Edna’s entire story birds have always been present. Birds have been telling the reader what she is struggling though. When a bird can’t fly Edna’s story, essentially her struggle, is over.

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The bird is interpreted as the symbol of the African-American people, beating their metaphorical wings against their past cages of slavery, and the current cage of segregation and discrimination. Dunbar highlights this notion, declaring, “I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, / When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore, - / When he beats his bars and he would be free; / It is not a carol of joy or glee” (Dunbar, “Sympathy” 555). Dunbar addresses the fact that he is able to relate to this bird, and mentions the fact that the bird wishes it could be free; much like the African-Americans wished they could be free from discrimination at the time, while the bruises on the bird’s wings and body symbolize the mental abuse being enforced. Dunbar uses his poem to lay the groundwork for future forms of African-American literature by perpetrating the desire for freedom and equality.

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