the awakening bird symbolism essay

The Awakening

Kate chopin, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

As in many Romantic works of the 19th century, birds in The Awakening are symbols of freedom and imagination. In flight, they soar above earthly rules and inhibitions. They observe the world from a cool distance, like passengers on a plane watching abstract squares of farmland. The power of flight (imagination) allows the birds to escape the laws of the earth.

Such freedom comes with a price, however. The novel’s birds symbolize both the joys of freedom and its potential dangers. As she listens to Mademoiselle Reisz ’s music, Edna imagines a man watching a bird flying into the distance. Later, Edna’s story about illicit love makes her listeners hear the romantic rustling of birds in the dark. In both instances, birds are markers of forbidden desire. And as the book draws to its conclusion, birds become warning signs. Edna watches a bird with a broken wing float down to the ocean in the moments before she drowns.

Birds Symbol Timeline in The Awakening

• The Awakening

Kate Chopin

• Literature Notes
• Wing Imagery
• Book Summary
• About The Awakening
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Chapters 7-8
• Chapters 9-11
• Chapters 12-14
• Chapters 27-28
• Chapters 30-31
• Chapters 33-35
• Character Analysis
• Edna Pontellier
• Léonce Pontellier
• Robert Lebrun
• Mademoiselle Reisz
• Character Map
• Kate Chopin Biography
• Critical Essays
• Art in Edna Pontellier's Life
• Full Glossary
• Essay Questions
• Practice Projects
• Cite this Literature Note

Critical Essays Wing Imagery

Chopin drew on a long history of bird imagery in women's writing to establish The Awakening 's opening image: the green-and-yellow parrot. Women writers since the 1700s had used caged birds as symbols to represent the limitations of their own domestic lives. Chopin's parrot, which symbolizes Edna, not only voices a desire for solitude (a condition necessary for creation of art and pursuit of self-knowledge) but at the same time represents the pressure exerted by both individuals and society in general for everyone to follow the same rules and display the same behavior. When her story begins, Edna obeys this implicit rule to go along with the crowd but later, as she begins to come into contact with her true self, she behaves as her moods and whims dictate rather than doing what everyone else does, such as when she abandons her reception day. Chopin herself detested parrots because they imitate what they hear instead of singing their own song.

Hanging in a cage on the other side of the door from the parrot is a mockingbird, who symbolizes the outspoken Mademoiselle Reisz, the only character to truly understand Edna's desire to achieve independence in thought and action. Although faced with her own limitations, as a single woman with little money, Mademoiselle Reisz wings defiantly away from the conventions that would impede her pursuit of art.

Chopin also uses wing imagery in her characterization of mother-women: "They were women...esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels." This angel image contrasts sharply with the bad-tempered parrot and its caged compatriot, the mockingbird, as do the very personalities of those characters they represent. The mother-women willingly allow their angel wings to be clipped by their way of life, made unsuitable for flight, in exchange for the security that accompanies their roles. As wives of wealthy businessmen, they are rewarded for carrying out their domesticated role with a place in upper-class society, lovely homes, fine clothes, and all of the other privileges and prestige that accompany their social position. Yet their acceptance of these rewards makes them beholden to their husbands, ensuring their dependence.

Note that when Léonce becomes tired of listening to the parrot's loudly repeated phrases and the mockingbird's persistent whistling, he has "the privilege of quitting [the birds'] society when they ceased to be entertaining." Meanwhile, the birds can only protest as best they can when the environment in which their cages hang becomes unacceptable to them, such as when the parrot seems to be objecting to listening yet again to the Farival twins play their oft-repeated duets on piano. Like Edna, the parrot is censured for his honesty by those who have a sentimental need to maintain certain appearances of civility or enthusiasm, despite their true feelings about the situation. Tired of effacing her own innate self to carry out the mother-woman role, Edna breaks with all social expectation when she exercises her "privilege of quitting" Léonce's company by moving into the so-called pigeon house. Note that while she has made progress in that she has escaped Léonce's gilded cage, still she is defined as a domesticated bird.

A critical use of the bird imagery is Mademoiselle Reisz's symbolic assessment of Edna's wings, an incident Edna describes to Arobin: Mademoiselle Reisz "felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong," and warned that those individuals who would "soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings" lest they find themselves unable to complete their flight and fall to their death. Such an image evokes the legend of Icarus, who achieved flight with a set of manufactured wings but fell to his death in the sea when out of pride he flew too high, and the sun melted the wax that held the feathers to his artificial wings. Interestingly, when The Awakening was first published, some reviewers not only condemned the book, but also insisted that Edna's death was well deserved because she was selfish enough to value her journey to self-realization over her household and family.

Previous Art in Edna Pontellier's Life

The Essence of “The Awakening”: Analyzing Kate Chopin’s Masterpiece

This essay about Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” provides an analysis of its central themes, symbols, and societal implications. It focuses on the protagonist, Edna Pontellier, and her struggle for autonomy against the restrictive societal norms of late 19th-century America. Through a detailed examination of the novel’s use of symbolism, such as the sea, birds, and music, the essay explores Edna’s quest for personal identity and freedom. It discusses the controversy surrounding Edna’s rejection of her roles as wife and mother, highlighting the novel’s relevance to discussions on gender roles and individuality. By analyzing “The Awakening” from both historical and contemporary perspectives, the essay emphasizes its significance in the discourse on women’s rights and the complexities of liberation and societal constraint.

How it works

Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening,” a novel published in 1899, remains one of the most profound explorations of female autonomy and desire in the annals of American literature. This essay offers an in-depth look at the novel’s themes, characters, and the societal implications that ripple through its narrative, serving as a beacon for discussions on gender roles and personal freedom.

At the heart of “The Awakening” is Edna Pontellier, a woman who grapples with the confines of late 19th-century society and the roles it imposes on women as wives and mothers.

Chopin intricately crafts Edna’s journey from a state of passive acceptance of her societal role to a stirring quest for personal identity and autonomy. This transition is not without its challenges and controversies, both for Edna and Chopin’s audience at the time, highlighting the novel’s enduring relevance in discussions about women’s rights and individuality.

Chopin’s narrative technique, rich in symbolism and evocative imagery, paints a vivid picture of Edna’s internal and external worlds. The use of the sea as a recurring motif symbolizes Edna’s awakening to her own desires and aspirations, as well as the vast, uncharted territories of female independence. This symbolism extends to other elements of the novel, such as birds and music, each serving to underscore aspects of Edna’s transformation and the broader themes of freedom and constraint.

Critics of “The Awakening” have often focused on the controversial nature of Edna’s choices, particularly her rejection of maternal responsibilities and societal expectations in pursuit of self-discovery. This critique reflects the societal norms of Chopin’s time, where women’s roles were rigidly defined. However, viewing the novel through a contemporary lens offers a richer understanding of Edna’s actions as a declaration of selfhood against the backdrop of an oppressive societal structure.

“The Awakening” invites readers to reflect on the nuances of liberation and the costs associated with challenging societal norms. Edna Pontellier’s journey is both a personal odyssey and a commentary on the societal constraints that continue to influence the discourse on gender and identity. Through Chopin’s eloquent prose, the novel encourages a dialogue on the complexities of freedom, desire, and the human condition.

In conclusion, “The Awakening” is not just a narrative about a woman’s struggle for identity amidst the constraints of society; it is a poignant critique of the roles and expectations placed upon women and the tumultuous journey toward self-realization. Kate Chopin’s masterpiece remains a testament to the power of literature as a mirror to society’s virtues and vices, challenging readers to ponder the depths of their own beliefs about freedom, gender, and the essence of human longing.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Awakening — Symbolism in Kate Chopin’s the Awakening

Symbolism in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening

• Categories: Book Review Symbolism The Awakening

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Words: 952 |

Published: Oct 2, 2020

Words: 952 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

"the awakening" and its hidden symbolism, works cited.

• Chopin, K. (1899). The Awakening. Herbert S. Stone & Company.
• Fahmy, C. (2003). Women and awakenings in late nineteenth-century America. Journal of American Studies, 37(2), 253-277.
• Gilmore, M. P. (1988). Sexualities in Kate Chopin's The Awakening. American Literature, 60(3), 345-362.
• Koloski, B. (Ed.). (2000). Approaches to teaching Chopin's The Awakening. Modern Language Association.
• Martin, W. (1991). New historicism and new criticism in the study of American literature. The Cambridge Companion to American Realism and Naturalism, 21-42.
• O'Prey, L. (2005). Kate Chopin in context: New approaches. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Papke, M. E. (2009). Verging on the abyss: The social fiction of Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton. University of Missouri Press.
• Petry, A. F. (1990). In search of freedom: A new evaluation of Kate Chopin's women. Southern Literary Journal, 23(2), 14-22.
• Showalter, E. (1977). Towards a feminist poetics: Women's writing and writing about women. Feminist Studies, 3(1), 15-28.
• Toth, E. L. (1991). Kate Chopin's New Orleans years. Louisiana State University Press.

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The Awakening

Bird and sea symbolize edna's awakening anonymous.

The final, powerful scene of The Awakening by Kate Chopin provides a fitting end to Edna’s long struggle between expectation and desire. Edna’s traditional role of wife and mother holds her back from her wish to be a free woman. Both the sea and the birds in the novel are symbols of freedom in Edna’s mind, and she willingly embraces them. Through the change of these two major symbols, we can draw the conclusion that Edna’s death was a suicide driven by hopelessness.

The symbol of the ocean plays a paramount role in Edna’s awakening. Seen early on as a “seductive” voice that “invit[es] the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation,” the sea and its limitless potential draw Edna into deep thought about her life (25). Despite her infatuation with the ocean, however, Edna is unable to swim at the beginning of the novel. After Edna begins her awakening by growing closer to Robert and hears the music that speaks to her soul, she is suddenly able to swim. This newfound ability is a sign that Edna is separating from the bound life that she despises. Before Edna started spending time with Robert, she was simply going through the motions of life. She obeyed her husband and acted as...

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The Awakening

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Kate Chopin

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A+ Student Essay: Analysis of Edna’s Feelings About Her Children

Because she rarely thinks about the consequences her actions have on other people, Edna Pontellier resembles a child. Nothing illustrates her childishness more powerfully than the scenes with her own sons, in which she betrays her irresponsibility and self-absorption. Yet Edna is far from alone in her failure to act as a loving, attentive parent: Chopin repeatedly shows us men and women who make little effort to understand their children. By including Edna in this array of bad parents, Chopin suggests that childishness is pandemic and therefore makes it difficult for us to wholly condemn her protagonist.

Several of Chopin’s characters liken Edna’s behavior to the carelessness and unpredictability of a child. “In some way you seem to me like a child,” says Madame Ratignolle. “You seem to act without a certain amount of reflection which is necessary in this life.” The statement—which does not provoke a response from Edna—is a criticism of our protagonist’s habit of accepting late-night visits from a man who is not her husband. Later, Dr. Mandelet refers to Edna as “my dear child” and tells her that she has not awakened to the realities of adult life—particularly, the necessity of self-abnegation and concern for other people. Edna herself admits that her behavior is childish after she has paranoid, jealous feelings about the Mexican woman who made Robert a new pouch. In each case, Edna acts on her own desires without showing empathy for others, and is thus labeled a child.

The label seems most accurate whenever Edna interacts with her own children, as she never shows an interest in what they’re thinking and feeling. An early, painful passage describes Edna in the midst of telling a story; she hopes to calm down Etienne and Raoul before they go to bed. Instead, her story excites the children, makes them more talkative and awake, and they are ultimately puzzled when Edna breaks off mid-sentence, gives a halfhearted promise to finish the next day, and leaves to fret about Robert’s imminent departure for Mexico. Later, Edna betrays her childishness again when she tells Raoul and Etienne about the new apartment she has bought near the Pontellier house. Raoul and Etienne ask sensible questions about whether there will be room for the whole family in this apartment, and Edna murmurs that “the fairies” will take care of all logistical problems. Edna’s willingness to deposit her children at Léonce’s mother’s house for indeterminate stretches of time suggests that she is more concerned with her own entertainment than with her maternal responsibilities.

But in this brave and unnerving novel, Edna’s childish behavior is not unique. With the exception of the Ratignolles, Chopin’s parental characters consistently fail to show empathy toward their sons and daughters. Léonce, for example, spends most of his time conducting business far from his family and sends occasional boxes of bonbons as a reminder of his ostensible paternal love. Madame Lebrun complains about Victor’s aimlessness and bad manners when, as Chopin notes, the aging woman is at least partially to blame for having favored and spoiled Victor throughout his youth. The Colonel bickers with Edna instead of trying to elicit her reasons for skipping her sister’s wedding, then gives up and advises his son-in-law to hit and yell at Edna more frequently. Léonce’s mother ignores the obvious fault lines in the Pontellier marriage so she can have more time with her grandchildren. Throughout The Awakening , Chopin’s characters disappoint their sons and daughters.

By hinting that Edna is not alone in her childishness, Chopin shows that her unlikable protagonist is not simply a villain. The novel frequently encourages us to condemn Edna, since many of the characters comment on her self-absorption and she herself displays this egoism in her conversations with Raoul and Etienne. However, by describing a network of similarly flawed mothers and fathers, Chopin suggests that Edna’s failings are universal. Indeed, the reason the novel unsettles so many readers may be that, in Chopin’s honest portrait of Edna Pontellier, we recognize our own features.

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Symbolism And Symbolism In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

A key aspect in writing an interesting story is forming symbolism. As the result of symbolism, readers can dive just a little bit deeper into the meaning and core of the work. Birds are a moderately frequent emblem, serving as representations of freedom, independence, and not afraid to be loud or to speak their minds. In Kate Chopin’s novella, “The Awakening,” birds were used to express Edna’s true feelings and desires, to explain the courage required to defy the standards, and to show Edna’s final defeat. Many animals, especially birds, seem to communicate in a language that only they can really understand. The novella starts by setting a scene with the description of two birds who do exactly that. Chopin began by stating, “A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over: ‘Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! That’s all right!’ He could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mocking- bird that hung on the other side of the door, whistling his fluty notes out upon the breeze with maddening persistence” (Chopin 1). The green and yellow parrot represented Edna Pontellier. With only one other being who understands her, she felt as if she was stuck in a golden cage. She had always had food on her plate and a man who provides a stable income and life for her. The mocking-bird represented Mademoiselle Reisz, because she is the only other being who understood what Edna, or the parrot,

Patriarchy In The Awakening

In first paragraph of the novel, Kate Chopin describes an image of a bird that is restrained from its freedom just as Edna feels held back from hers. “A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door...” (Chopin, pg#) There is symbolism behind the caged bird, which refers to Edna’s feelings of imprisonment. The bird symbolize Edna at home, a place she can’t escape from and has to live with under her husband’s “ruling”. There is a saying in Spanish that states

Internal Conflicts In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

The story, The Awakening, is about Edna Pontellier’s internal conflict between her desire for independence and her need to remain a high-class member of society. When away on summer vacation Edna has the realization that she has control of her own life and begins to focus on her self and not what others think. During her awakening, Edna is faced with much resilience from her husband and friends and instead of becoming someone she is not, Edna Pontellier ends her own life as she sees it is her only option. The author, Kate Chopin, uses many characters to exemplify the conflicting ideals emerging in Edna; particularly Madame Ratignolle acts as a foil to Edna’s newfound persona, instead symbolizing the conservation of a traditional

The Importance of Setting and Symbols in "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

• 3 Works Cited

The stepping stones in Edna’s awakening can be seen through symbols: birds, clothes, and even the ocean. The symbols of caged birds in The Awakening represent Edna’s entrapment as a wife and mother, along with all of the other Victorian women. When Leonce is sitting by the parrots reading his newspaper, the parrot spoke, “a language which nobody understood” (Chopin 5). Edna, just like the parrot, can not be understood. Edna can not communicate her feelings with others, her feelings being the “language” that nobody

The Awakening Dialectical Journal

An important theme in Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening is the desire for some women to abandon their dull lives as only mothers and wives. In other words, solitude. The main character, Edna Pontellier is a woman with such desires. She has two sons with her husband, Leonce Pontellier, whom she would rather not be with. The theme mentioned earlier is seen all throughout the novel, by means of several different symbols, including birds. There are three examples of birds used within the story, two of which in the very first chapter. The story opens with a loud parrot repeating the phrase: ‘Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapriste!” (Chopin 1) This roughly translates to “Go away! Go away! For God’s sake!” These words

Birds In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Birds are a common sight in most places people tend to be. These winged creatures are seen in bustling places like the pigeons that are in urban and suburban areas, the woodpeckers in rural regions, the crows on farms, and even in cages within buildings. In fact, these elegant creatures are so common a sight in society that they are often overlooked and underappreciated. This is similar to how women were and sometimes still are treated within society; they are given little appreciation when they are present and doing as they are told, but when they do not do as they are told they become a problem. This parallel that can be drawn between women and birds is used throughout Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, in which its main character Edna Pontellier is often likened to and symbolized by a bird. Throughout the novel, the bird acts as a theme and symbol of both Edna and women in general.

Symbolism In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

“Having added to American literature a novel uncommon in its kind as in its excellence, she deserves not to be forgotten. The Awakening, deserves to be restored and to be given its place among novels worthy of preservation”(Eble 82). Kenneth Eble is speaking of Kate Chopin in the quote above, revealing his opinion of her work. The topics mentioned by Chopin in The Awakening are highly controversial due to the time period. Nevertheless, Chopin creates an amazing structure in order to convey her message. Chopin intertwines different motifs and symbols throughout the novel in order to create meaning at the end of the novel. An important motif specific to the time period is isolation due to independence. One of the many symbols attached to this

Change In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

For a person to be awakened, he or she must go through an experience that causes a sudden enlightenment in the area surrounding them. In the fictional novel The Awakening, written by Kate Choppin, the reader is taken along on the journey of a woman by the name of Edna Pontellier, who is trying to break free of the social guidelines of her time period. Mrs. Pontellier, the wife to a wealthy business man by the name of Leonce, begins to experience change not only with her physical wants but her mental desires as well. This unheard of change that Edna is going through truly is her awakening, is well described by the title of the book, and has an impact on her loved ones around her.

Symbolism In The Awakening

Symbolism also plays an enormous role, birds, oceans, and sound are three different interpretations of Edna. Throughout the entire story, caged birds appear quite often resembling the trapped society of Mrs. Pontellier, it also serves as a reminder that she's caged like a bird wanting to escape and also the entrapment of women in that specific time. In the beginning, the parrot talking to Mr. Pontellier saying to leave in French represents as Edna’s

Edna is isolated and trapped like those birds in the cage, by her husband, and she does not have any freedom to leave as she pleases. “You are burnt beyond recognition,” he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage” (Chopin p.24). Edna could not escape from her husband anywhere, even when they were at the ocean; “ I thought I should have perished out there alone”… “ You were not so very far, my dear; I was watching you,” he told her (50). Birds are the major symbol in this novel; they are mentioned through out the novel. In the beginning of the novel birds were saying;”Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! Thant’s all right!” (Chopin p.22); this means go away, go away, for God’s sake, in Spanish. It is clearly seen that the birds represent Edna’s unspoken words and feelings toward her husband. The author mentions a bird at the end of the novel as well; “A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water” (Chopin p. 138). This bird was free from the cage but had broken wing. This bird represents that no matter how Edna tried to fulfill her desires; she did accomplish them; however, Edna did not have strong wings to fly high enough in her life to maintain her freedom, her desires, and her independence in the society she lived.

How Does Kate Chopin Use Symbols In The Awakening

In the novel, the awakening by Kate Chopin the main character Edna Pontellier starts off as the wonderful wife who fulfills the role of a proper mother, but then explores her desires to find and live fully within her true self. Her involvement in finding her true self causes friction with her friends and family, and also conflicts with the expected values of women in her time. The author uses symbolism and setting to convey the meaning of true self. The story starts off when Edna Pontellier and her family take a trip to grand isle.

The Awakening Bird Symbolism Essay

In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, there is a debate throughout the novel to whether someone, specifically a woman, can be strong enough to break conformity and tradition. Chopin illustrates this debate using birds to symbolize the difficulties and struggles to accomplish this feat. This relates to the meaning of the work because Chopin uses the symbolism of flight and wings as Edna’s means of strength and ability to break the mold. The Awakening begins with two birds that are being kept in cages hanging on a door.

Throughout the “Awakening” by Kate Chopin, has a much deeper meaning in the story, and it is shown by symbolism. These symbolic elements make the connection between Edna’s world, and her eventual awaking more effective. There are three common symbols that are used in the story are birds, houses, and the ocean and each means something different in the context of the story. The nature has an important impact, the birds represent freedom and the ability to fly but are also symbols for something that is strong yet gentle. Houses are where one resides and thus are reflections on the soul of the inhabitant. Edna has different homes is important because they reflect her changing state of mind. The ocean symbolizes freedom and the represents death

The Symbolic Figures In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

The novel’s locations of Grand Isle and New Orleans in the novel have a significant impact on Edna’s mental awakening. Grand Isle represents freedom from traditional norms. Edna finds herself in a relationship with Robert, a younger man who leads her to discover her inner self. Robert and the free spirit in the air on the island sparks an awakening in Edna. The ocean plays a significant role in Edna’s self realization, symbolizing freedom and strength. Chopin uses the ocean to provide Edna with opportunities and essentially rebirth, as it calls her towards its seaside. In Chapter 6 the reader learns the ocean’s impact on Edna, “The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander

The Ending Of Kate Chopin's The Awakening

This was a great written story by Kate Chopin. I thought that the ending of this story was surprising for three reasons. First reason, I thought this because the priest had given Octavie a letter saying someone had died in the war. Also because how she felt after she read the letter. Last reason, because the locket was so important to Edmond

The Theme Of Individualism In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Nineteenth century, a century that urged women to attain a sense of self awareness and dignity. The Awakening, published in 1899, was labeled as morbid, disagreeable, and vulgar, which then went through a massive controversy that led to the book being widely condemned. “Modern critics praise The Awakening for its daring treatment of traditional gender roles as they were defined at the turn of the century, and for its exploration of a woman's search for self-fulfillment.” states Suzanne D. Green. Kate Chopin deliberately uses the theme of individualism vs. society to explain how the protagonist (Edna) rebels against society while incorporating still incorporating her antithesis, Madame

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Essay on bird symbolism in Kate Chopin's, The Awakening <3

faithcarson 1 / 4   Apr 28, 2012   #1 "Men have hitherto treated women like birds which have strayed down to them from the heights; as something more delicate, more fragile, more savage, stranger, sweeter, soulful - but as something which has to be caged up so that it shall not fly away." In the novella, The Awakening, Kate Chopin explores how man, as well as the society of the 1800's "caged" its women. By symbolizing women as birds, Chopin adds wonderment to her work and simultaneously encourages the reader to understand it at a deeper level. When the reader is introduced into the life of the main character; Edna Pontellier has not yet been "awakened." She is, at this point in her life, symbolized by the "green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside." Edna cannot fly away to freedom due equally to both the social constraints she is bound by, as well as the family she is expected to tend to and raise. As Edna begins to experience things that lead her to her awakening, she realizes the bars she is trapped behind and becomes restless. The caged parrot, introduced in the beginning of Chopin's story speaks "a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mocking-bird that hung on the other side of the door, whistling his fluty notes out upon the breeze with maddening persistence." The idea that the parrot is misunderstood is a representation of Edna and her inability to relate to the society she is tied to. The only person who understands her is Mademoiselle Reisz, who is symbolized by the mockingbird that flits outside the window. The other women in the novel are depicted as birds as well. These women are a perfect depiction of what Edna should be according to society. Chopin, however, makes it clear to the reader, that while these women may be ignorantly content with the lives they lead, and the role they play, they too are caged. The women of Grand Isle "flutter about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood." These "winged" mothers are only ever able to use their wings to shelter and protect, never to fly. They too, are unknowingly trapped by society and familial responsibilities. As Edna pushes deeper through the process of her awakening, she becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the life she leads. In an attempt to escape, Miss Pontellier leaves her family and moves to the "pigeon house." The independence that Edna feels as a result of the move is fleeting, as she soon realizes that her new life is another cage, just "two steps away" from where she was before. The Mademoiselle realizes Edna's struggle because she too had undergone the struggle of breaking out of society's constraints, and although she has gained her freedom, she must fly alone and misunderstood. Through her own experience, she has learned that "the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings," As Mademoiselle Reisz feels Edna's "shoulder blades to see if [her] wings are strong," she the shares knowledge and wisdom she has earned over time. Edna is warned that to gain her freedom is a difficult battle. The mademoiselle tells her, "It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth." Sadly, as Edna becomes fully awakened and aware of the life she lives, she begins to feel hopeless, as she understands that there is no escape. As Edna goes back to the beach where her journey of awakening began, she sees an injured bird "with a broken wing, beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disables down, down to the water." The bird represents Edna and the desolation that has disabled her. She realizes that she will never be able to live her life the way she wants to. She sees death as her only escape to freedom. Her death is her final awakening. As Kate Chopin writes, "Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one's life."

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Symbolism In The Awakening

The Awakening contains many symbolic features, such as the way Edna uses art, the birds (the parrot and the mockingbird), sleep, music, and the houses Edna Pontellier lives in, but perhaps two of the most significant symbols are the clothes in the novel, not only of Edna, but also the other characters, and the water, whether it be the ocean, the gulf, or the sea. These two symbols are possibly the most significant because of their direct relationship to Edna Pontellier.

Both the water and her clothes have the power to not only emphasize, but elp show exactly how and what Edna is feeling. Clothes appear to have significant meaning in The Awakening, enough so that they are mentioned at almost every description of the characters. Edna Pontellier starts the novel fully dressed and appropriately dressed for a woman of her responsibilities, however, at her final moment, she is naked on the beach. Other women in the story also represent their position and the way they feel in the way they dress. For example, Madmoiselle Reisz never changes her clothes.

This could possibly symbolize her physical detachment from anything around her, including nature and any suppressed feelings. In contrast, Ednas clothes represent her physical attachment to society. She sheds her clothes the way a snake sheds its skin when it is time for a new one and it does not fit into the old one any longer. Edna doesnt feel like she can fit into society any longer. Madmoiselle Reisz, on the other hand, does not seem to have any desire to be more than what she has been given in the society in which she lives.

Therefore, she does not change her clothes, because she does not feel the need for change in her life. Other characters, such as Madame Leburn always have new clothes to cover their bodies. This could, perhaps, represent the constant need to cover their sexuality as women in suppressed roles as wives and mothers. Ednas nakedness at the end of the novel symbolizes her freedom from any claims her children may have on her and shows how her lack of clothes is equal to her lack of responsibility, of her family and the 1890s society.

The Ocean is a clear symbol of freedom for Edna. The water is where Edna feels replenished and she begins to realize that she is not satisfied with her life and roles as wife and mother. This happens on the day she learns to swim, which is something she had wanted to accomplish all summer. By learning to swim, she is empowered and becomes more self-aware, of not only her sexuality, but also of who she is and not who society says she The water in The Awakening could be seen to symbolize Ednas rebirth into a more assertive woman.

Every time she enters the water, she gets stronger, until finally her strength is more powerful than her love for her children, or her life. At this point she goes so far out to sea, that the water takes back the strength it had geven her. Both the water and the clothes in the novel are very important symbols, both helping to emphasize Edna Pontelliers new life. She starts the novel as a very suppressed woman (fully clothed) and covered by society and its strict roles, and then ends naked as if she is escaping the restricted boundaries of her clothes and of society.

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Bird Symbolism In The Awakening

Awake and Aware Birds are symbols of freedom flying high above society's grasp, unlike Edna Pontellier in The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Edna and her husband Leonce Pontellier vacation at Grand Isle, a high society island in New Orleans. Robert Lebrun innocently dedicates himself to a different woman every summer and Edna peaks his interest as she attempts to break away from the social confines she is enveloped in. As Edna and Robert become infatuated, she also begins to search for self liberation and is surrounded by the ocean and birds in her journey to self discovery. The recurring symbolism of birds and the ocean demonstrate the progression of Edna Pontellier’s freedom. Birds and flight represent Edna’s liberation from traditional gender …show more content…

Women are expected to be devoted to their husbands and content fulfilling domestic responsibilities. Edna feels misunderstood like the parrot in the cage but has accepted her life of monotony until she meets Robert who is enticed by her distaste for a traditional life. As she becomes infatuated with Robert, Mademoiselle Reisz becomes an influential figure in her life. Mademoiselle Reisz is an independent older woman and pianist whose music inspires Edna. She seemingly understands Edna's struggles to break the boundaries of her quintessential life but warns her “the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth” (Chopin 112). The bird Mademoiselle Reisz is referencing is symbolic of Edna's developing strength and heightening journey to independence but foreshadows Edna's inevitable downfall back into society's grasp. Edna endeavors to break societal confines convinced she can escape her husband's control and find freedom with Robert; Slowly, she begins to realize the impossibility of her desires. …show more content…

Edna is initially fearful of the ocean and cannot swim in the deep water despite her friends' valiant attempts to teach and persuade her. Edna’s detachment from the ocean represents her initially content with her lifestyle and role in society. She is regarded as very fortunate for her high class status and luxurious lifestyle provided by Leonce. At a lavish party with her high society friends Edna overcomes her swimming struggles as “A feeling of exultation [overtakes] her, as if some power of significant import [is given to] her to control the working of her body and her soul…She [wants] to swim far out, where no woman had swum before” (Chopin PN). Edna understanding how to swim is representative of a rebirth of her mindset into a new woman; She feels great power having control over her body and mind while swimming. The farther she swims the more control she feels as she breaks away from the others at the party although she eventually returns to shore and reunites with her husband. As Edna begins to frequent the Gulf, she also starts to defy her husband, no longer obeying his commands; She begins to distance herself from her children feeling less passionate about her maternal and marital obligations with her new mindset of self empowerment. Slowly, Edna becomes more aware of her diminishing role in society because despite her own mindset of self power, society does not reciprocate this understanding.

Societal Norms In The Awakening, By Kate Chopin

Edna went to go swimming, but she had suicide in mind rather that swimming. As she was walking towards the beach she thought to herself, “The Children appeared before her like antagonists who had overcome her; who had overpowered and sought to drag her into the soul’s slavery for the rest of her days. But she knew a way to elude them.” (Chopin 159). In order for Edna to defeat the societal norms and not be bound in chains from her husband and traditional womanhood; Edna had to leave her motherly role in the family and she stubbornly went against the expectations of her husband and society.

The Awakening Bird Analysis

Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening opens with a scene of two birds, emphasizing that the motif of birds later within the novel will play an important part with setting the constant metaphor they bring. Throughout the whole novel the motif of birds is a metaphor for the Victorian women during that period -- caged birds serve as reminders of Edna’s entrapment and the entrapment of Victorian women in general. Edna makes many attempts to escape her cage (husband, children, and society), but her efforts only take her into other cages, such as the pigeon house. Edna views this new home as a sign of her independence, but the pigeon house represents her inability to remove herself from her former life, due to the move being just “two steps away” (122).

How Does Edna Pontellier Change In The Awakening

While first scared to enter the water, she became empowered and reckless, facing her fear, learning the excitement of swimming. By taking a risk and enjoying the outcome, Edna’s mindset started

Examples Of Societal Standards In The Awakening

The bird, representing Edna, foreshadows her one-way trip into the sea as it, with an injured wing, falls into the water just as Edna, with a damaged mind, walks into the sea. She feels as though suicide is the only way to find a reprieve from the gender standards that have been forced onto her. As she stands underneath the bright sun “[s]he felt like some new-born creature” signifying her awakening (120). Edna departs this world with dignity as she ultimately found her freedom

How Does Chopin Use Birds In The Awakening

Waves of warm salty air fills the island of Grand Isle as Edna Pontellier and other Creole vacationers settle in. Time coming and going as romantic affairs interfere with the lost love of Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier. Continuous disregard to the roles of a wife, mother, and social aspect to the public, set intentionally. Action and consequences made to overall, achieve the dream of independence. In The Awakening by Kate Chopin, the use of birds and houses are symbols that illustrate the desire for freedom under the pressure of society rule.

What Does Water Symbolize In The Awakening

She begins withdrawing herself from societal norms and finally becomes more content with life. After Edna learns to swim “a feeling of exultation [overtakes] her, as if some power of significant import [is] given her to control the working of her body and her soul…She [wants] to swim far out, where no woman [has] swum before” (Chopin 37). Edna develops new confidence in what she wants in her life after slowly retracting from societal expectations. Edna obtains a new mindset on how she will accomplish her goals. She becomes more determined and cares less about what others think.

How Does Kate Chopin Use Birds In The Awakening

Kate Chopin primarily uses birds as symbols in The Awakening to illustrate confinement, lack of independence, and societal expectations. Chopin tactfully uses birds in The Awakening to represent femininity and

Edna Pontellier's Dichotomy

Kate Chopin’s The Awakening takes places in the social world of New Orleans, in the 19th century, were the notion of motherhood and femininity was controlled and enforced fiercely. Women could not own property, vote or work. The only use society had for them was to stay at home and take care of their husbands and children. Motherhood is displayed through three characters in the novel: Adele Ratignolle who is the symbol of The Angel in the House or the mother woman, Mademoiselle Reisz who although physically old represents the new woman, and Edna Pontellier who is stuck in between motherhood and her thirst for independence. There is an interesting dichotomy between Edna Pontellier, the woman who feels deprived and repressed and Adele Ratignolle

Edna Pontellier's Character In 'The Awakening'

After swimming successfully, she develops feelings for Robert. After this awakening, Edna starts to step back and rethink her entire life; her marriage, her role, and even herself. She realizes she feels sort of imprisoned in this life she has had for so long. Edna finally starts doing things for her, she is letting herself feel an attraction for another man even though she is married and she also gets into art and has everyone in the house model for her. Rather than doing things to get the house ready for her husband or spending time playing with her children, she is distracted by all her newly found

What Is Edna's Allegory Of The Cave

When she comes back from the island, this new outlook on life clashes with her husband’s old world values, and he endeavors to stop what he sees as utter madness. At one point, a family doctor recommends to Léonce that Edna spend time at her ancestral home, far away from the water, to return her behavior to what he knows as normal. Edna expresses a dislike of and actively avoids certain parts of society, but cannot fully separate herself from the motherly duties forced onto her by traditional gender roles, unlike her muse Mademoiselle Reisz. These duties, ultimately, prove to be the fetters that cause Edna to sink downward, and lead her to end her life in the same ocean where it truly

Edna stands, watching as she sees “a bird with a broken wing [beating] the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water” (Chopin 156). Edna realizes that she cannot flee from the immense amount of burdens placed on women in her society by living in ignorance of her responsibilities. Therefore, much like the bird's demise, she subjects herself to death in the sea, an escape from all of her sentiments. Edna is able to escape her caged life as a married woman and learns to fly. Although, her wings are not strong enough to allow her to soar and reach satisfaction with her

Water In The Awakening

The imagery Edna is moved with includes the sounds of the rippling water, the sails flapping in the breeze, the sight of the moon, and the “current of desire” that ran through her body, creating a drive for inspiration (97). As Edna had been acquainted deeply with the sea, a sort of rebirth occurred, similar in idea to a baptism. Her awakening, as it seems, is only the start of Edna’s journey, and the water strengthens Edna both mentally and emotionally. While in the city, Edna frequently takes “refreshing baths” and “washes up in basins” after naps to “start anew” (122, 161). Edna also meets with friends, such as Mademoiselle Reisz, from the beach while back in New Orleans.

Ocean Symbolism In The Awakening

As Edna becomes more comfortable in the water, she also becomes more in touch with her own emotions. One particular night, Edna is able to swim farther into the ocean than she ever had before - the same night when she realizes her own distaste with her marriage and her role in society. Chopin writes that while Edna was in 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 (Chopin 27)”. This

The Bird Symbol In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Edna has become like this bird; her heart is broken and her soul is discouraged as she realizes she will never fully discover love and life. The bird’s failure to fly symbolizes Edna’s suicide because both of them are on a solitary flight to

The Awakening Bird Symbolism Essay

Birds were always involved with any moment of significance, and they helped readers see what characters struggle with. The night of Edna’s awakening, an owl was depicted sitting in a tree. At a piano performance, where Edna awakens more, a parrot is mentioned in the text. All of these bird motifs pushed and stressed a specific theme. To distance oneself from expectation and societal norms one will sacrifice.

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