What Does It Mean To Say That Edna's Awakening Occurs In The Ocean?

Edna reassesses her spirit more and more as the novel proceeds, with her finally reaching the maxim when committing suicide. At the beginning of the novel she is completely

Emotions and feelings are very tempting to give into. The Sirens are beautiful women who lure sailing men in by tempting them with this voice. They

Edna's feelings of despondency fade as the sea's spell reaches out for her again. The narrator points out that "[the] voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in

“The Sound of the Sea” is a sonnet by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, describing the sounds of the sea and relating it to human inspiration. Through only auditory images of the sea and other powerful natural forces, Longfellow effectively alludes to the nature of human inspiration. Through detailed and sensory imagery, Longfellow communicates the subtle details of the human soul and how inspiration functions.

Throughout history, women have been expected to fit into a rigid gender stereotype. Women in the early 1900s would be expected to care for children, be able to do household duties and obey everything their husbands instructed. Those women that did not fit the stereotype were looked down upon by members of society and were often alienated. Edna, the protagonist of the novel, had to battle her inner conflict of not wanting to conform to society's standards throughout the novel. Over, and over again, she was reminded of the fact that she was different and that society did not approve of her way of thinking. In the novel The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, the author uses the characters and their actions in society to express the oppression and expectations society had towards women.

At home, Edna begins her transformation. She has moved out of her family home and into a place of her own, paying her own bills by selling her art work. Robert is no longer in her life, but she struggles with his denial. He decided that he could no longer have an affair with her because she was married and he

In the Heart of the Sea, is a book that can transport us to a different time, where there is adventure, but also suffering. It is the story of a tragedy, that contains many other stories inside and just with the first chapter- if we read between the lines- we can discover more than just the history behind the title, we can also discover the situations, the problems and the culture that let us know how things worked many years ago. It is not a fairy tale, it is the beginning of what happened in the heart of the

Whether coerced or through self realizations, there were many awakenings in the book. The first was that Edna was not the traditional mother like Adèle, the second was that she enjoyed doing things for herself instead of for her children and husband. This second awakening is shown when Edna takes time to talk

Like the current beneath its surface, it pulls and tugs at her soul, inviting her to its depths. Edna was attracted to the water, just the same as she was her changes. When she first begins to transition, she was chary and distant, hesitant of its mysterious qualities- she felt the same way towards the ocean. She was not sure why, but she could not resist the temptations of this new fantasy, and she could not stop herself from finding her way back to the water. In her eyes, “the voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation,” (Chopin 33). Edna felt connected to the water; in it, she reached self-actualization and encountered a side of her no one else knew existed...even herself. It was only once its potent seductions drew her in did Edna begin to see and feel the alterations swelling inside her. The true turning point and catalyst in her awakening was her ability to swim on her own. While Edna did attempt to swim before, she was never truly free- she depended on the

Edna’s awakening was the beginning to her suicide. As Edna realized her capacity to be honest with herself, the old Edna began to die. Edna slowly started to realize she did not want to be like other women, whom “idolized their children, worshiped their

The Awakening begins in the vacation spot of Grand Isle. At first we believe that Grand Isle is a utopia, wealthy families relaxing at oceanside, but it is here where Edna first begins to realize her unhappiness. The first sign of dissatisfaction is when Edna allows herself to feel that her marriage is unsatisfying, yet she must agree with the other women that Leonce Pontellier is the perfect husband. Edna asks herself that if she has a good husband

Throughout “The Awakening”, Edna is immersed in a constant clash with society over the significance of the difference between her life and her self. To Edna, the question of whether or not she would die for her children is somewhat simple. Edna attempts to explain this concept to her good friend, Adele Ratignolle, but to no avail, “I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself” (Chopin 62). Not only does Edna consider her life unessential, she categorizes it as equal with material objects such as money. The idea of self, on the other hand, lies on a completely different level in Edna’s mind. The most important goal to Edna in her life is the journey to discover her true character. The idea that her inner self is more essential than life or even her children causes Edna to stray farther from the social constraints of the typical domestic woman. Kathleen M. Streater weighs in on Edna’s situation and placement in

The Awakening Theme: Do not give into the pressures of society and search for your own identity Edna lives in a society that expects women to only take care of children and be an obedient wife. However, Edna feels trapped and does not want to be only limited to being a good wife. One day, she meets a young man named Robert who helps Edna awaken and she gradually begins to want to search for her own identity. Therefore, she has sexual awakenings with Alcee, so she can try to figure out herself.

It is apparent in the beginning of The Awakening that Edna Pontellier has her head in the clouds about life and the people around her. She is aware of her surroundings but there is a noticeable uncertainty about her. During what is called her “awakening” Edna experiences a whole new outlook on her simple life. She escapes the social standards of an average Victorian woman in her time, and learns to think and do as she pleases. This rebellious self journey of freedom ultimately leads her spiraling to her death.

And suddenly, I was there… alone, in the middle of a serene ocean. The last thing I remember was me, leaving a foreign country which I still don’t know the name. I was in a rectangular and modest boat and the water seemed molten silver before my eyes, so infinite, and I felt so small… I could notice the reflection of the sun flaming, burning my pupils. The tide began to turn tanned and I felt immune and indifferent to the world, the water could swallow me but I was fine with the idea… The sea’s flow was taking me to somewhere, and I couldn’t find out where. It was tedious for me to travel, I was always afraid of the sea, of being in the middle of nothing but at that moment all I felt was curiosity; the fear had forgotten my face. I