The Awakening by Kate Chopin is about a young woman, named Edna Pontellier, who realizes her trapped state in society and who slowly awakens to a new freedom of self expression, sexuality, and self confidence. She so craves her freedom, that she is willing to do anything to get it, no matter what it may cost her. Chopin's use of symbolism demonstrates Edna's escape from her trapped state to freedom and independence.
             The author starts off this novel with two birds in cages. One contains a green and yellow parrot, the other contains a mocking bird. "The green and yellow parrot...that speaks a little French, a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood" (468) is a metaphor for Edna's circumstances. This symbol goes far beyond just a bird in a cage, because in ways, Edna is like this caged bird. She is a prisoner to social expectations and her family. Throughout the story, she speaks a language that no one seems to comprehend, not even her husband or friends. She goes misunderstood and eventually rebels against everything her society condones to establish her freedom.
             During Edna's struggle to gain independence she crosses many self imposed barriers, as well as barriers imposed by the time period. While on her summer vacation, she attempts to learn to swim. Many times from the [men, women, and children around her she receives instructions], however, "a certain ungovernable dread hung about her when in the water, unless there was a hand near by that might reach out and reassure her" (488). One night though, Edna learned to swim. She overcame her fear, and "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 soul. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before" (488). The night Edna learns to swim, symbolizes her gaining not only self confidence, knowing that she can do...