Essay on Use of Symbolism in Chopin’s The Awakening

Use of Symbolism in Chopin’s The Awakening --Passage from Chapter X, pgs. 49-50 â€Å"But that night she was like the little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who all of a sudden realizes its powers, and walks for the first time alone, boldly and with over-confidence. She could have shouted for joy. She did shout for joy, as with a sweeping stroke or two she lifted her body to the surface of the water. A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul. She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before. She turned her face seaward to gather in an impression of space and†¦show more content†¦It is an exciting moment because it is one of the first times that Edna Pontellier, the protagonist, feels giddy with herself and her accomplishments. In the preceding passage, Edna Pontellier swims for the first time by herself. Much is symbolized and foreshadowed in this passage. Throughout the summer, Edna’s husband, Mr. Pontellier, and many other people have been trying to teach her. However, Edna was never able to swim with the help of others. The fact that she finally is able to swim unaided symbolizes Edna’s awakening sense of independence and self-reliance. The ocean parallels Edna’s feelings. It is described with diction such as â€Å"space and solitude†, â€Å"vast expanse† and â€Å"unlimited.† The words â€Å"significant import†¦given her to control the working of her body and her soul† also support this. Edna realizes she is in control of herself and can attain happiness by her own means. Similarly, the control Edna has over her body suggests her awakening sense of sexuality. It is around the time of this swim that Edna acutely develops feelings for Robert LeBrun. The ocean that Edna swims in could also symbolize her awakening as a rebirth of herself. She is described as a â€Å"tottering, stumbling, clutching child† when in the water. Throughout the novel, Edna is often portrayed as a child. Rather than slowly easing into her independence at a rate that she could handle and control, Edna seems to throw herself into it as a childShow MoreRelated The Transformation of Edna Pontellier in The Awakening Essay950 Words   |  4 Pageshappen- something, anything: she did not know what† (Chopin). In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, the reader is introduced to Edna Pontellier, a passionate, rebellious woman. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent how unsettled Edna feels about her life. The reader can identify this by her thoughts, desires, and actions, which are highly inappropriate for an affluent woman of the time. In the novel, Edna has an awakening and finds the courage to make the changes she sees necessary. 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