Edna Pontellier in "The Awakening"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the character from Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" - Edna Pontellier. It specifically looks at Edna's experiences in the maturation of an aspiring artist evolving into an achieved and self-determined artist. The paper discusses the imagery that Chopin uses combined with situations and experiences Edna is placed in and how they help the reader to understand this change.

From the Paper:

"When Edna slowly sinks into the sea, she dreams of her sister's impending marriage, bees humming, and pinks (flowers). At first, these scenes appear to be positive, however, the chained dog places a negative light on the dream. It is almost as if Chopin is offering the reader the choice to live a life dominated by "footsteps," or to live life appreciating things and following what you love. While both images offer a way to promote survival (i.e. Childbirth through marriage and the pollination of the pinks by the bees), it is the second and final image of life in which Edna has chosen to live. She learned to live through her art and more importantly, was willing to die for it. Throughout her transformation from a budding artist to a fully bloomed professional, Edna Pontellier also found herself as a woman. Through the imagery Chopin offers as well as its progression in the novel, one is able to clearly see this maturation. Although a large majority of her actions (caused by her artistic soul breaking free) are taboo, Edna teaches the philosophy that the only true way to live is to live as oneself; for if you do not, life itself is not worth living."

More papers on Edna Pontellier in "The Awakening":

• Book Review # 119139 : "Feminism 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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