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, butperhaps 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 toEdna Pontellier. Both the water and her clothes have the power to not only emphasize, buthelp show exactly how and what Edna is feeling. Clothes appear to have significant meaning in The Awakening, enough so that theyare mentioned at almost every description of the characters. Edna Pontellier starts the novelfully dressed and appropriately dressed for a woman of her responsibilities, however, at her
The Ocean is a clear symbol of freedom for Edna. This happens on the day she learns to swim, which is something she had wantedto accomplish all summer. The water is where Edna feelsreplenished and she begins to realize that she is not satisfied with her life and roles as wifeand mother. She sheds her clothes the way a snakesheds its skin when it is time for a new one and it does not fit into the old one any longer. Edna doesn't feel like she can fit into society any longer. 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 isescaping the restricted boundaries of her clothes and of society. At this point she goes so far outto sea, that the water takes back the strength it had geven her. Ednas' nakedness at the end of the novel symbolizesher freedom from any claims her children may have on her and shows how her lack of clothesis equal to her lack of 'responsibility', of her family and the 1890s' society. Every time she enters the water, she gets stronger, until finally her strengthis more powerful than her love for her children, or her life. This could, perhaps, represent the constant need to cover their sexuality as women insuppressed roles as wives and mothers. By learning to swim, she is empowered and becomes moreself-aware, of not only her sexuality, but also of who she is and not who society says sheshould be. This could possibly symbolize her physical detachment fromanything around her, including nature and any suppressed feelings. Other women in the story also represent their'position' and the way they feel in the way they dress. For example, Madmoiselle Reisznever changes her clothes. The water in The Awakening could be seen to symbolize Edna's rebirth into a moreassertive woman.
Common topics in this essay:
Madame Leburn,
Edna Pontellier,
Madmoiselle Reisz,
Edna Pontellier's,
,
edna pontellier,
clothes novel,
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society water,
water clothes,
madmoiselle reisz,
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Acceptance Essays
