Edna in "The Awakening"

Paper Summary:

In "The Awakening", Kate Chopin discusses the legitimacy of hope that human beings' sense of compassion can be extended to Edna Pontellier?s ascetic search for liberation and self-realization. The paper discusses how Edna ? a wife, a mother, but primarily a woman ? goes through a series of transformations in which the images of the sea play a crucial role. The paper shows how the sea?s potent promises of the infinite and its music of eternity capture Edna?s soul at Grand Isle, leading the way to future struggles between her inner truth and the aggression of her surroundings, ultimately culminating in Edna?s triumphant fall at the settling of the accounts.

From the Paper:

"The word "swell" indicates the expansion as a result of Edna's internal pressure to remain seemingly unchanged on the surface, while her entire world falls apart as a result of changing consciousness. Vastness of the sea is the only thing left ?unbroken,? offering unthreatened constancy and support for Edna. So reliable was the appearance of the sea that it allows her to free herself for the first time, and swim fearlessly into the night. It is obvious that the sea has gotten a firm hold of her at this point, and is dragging her further into contemplation of her own existence. The ?billows,? as smooth wavelets are identified with serpents, indicating temptation of Biblical proportions, setting the scene in a modern time Eden, and alluding to the forces of treacherous, subtle sin. The important difference from the original sin is that the "serpents" are white, carrying the message of purity and spirituality, thus preparing Edna to face not death, but new life."

More papers on Edna in "The Awakening":

• Analytical Essay # 146754 : "Adele vs. Edna in "The Awakening"
• Book Review # 109342 : "Women as Birds in "The Awakening"
• Analytical Essay # 67924 : "Music and Noise in "The Awakening"

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