The Transformation of Edna Pontellier in The Awakening Essay -- Kate C

She wanted something to happen- something, anything she did not know what(Chopin). In Kate Chopins novel, The Awakening, the reader is introduced to Edna Pontellier, apassionate, rebellious woman. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent how risky Ednafeels about her life. The reader give the bounce identify this by her thoughts, desires, and actions, which arehighly inappropriate for an affluent woman of the time. In the novel, Edna has an awakeningand finds the courage to make the changes she sees necessary. Kate Chopin is adequate to makequality connections in order to symbolize her inward desires. Chopin does this by providingreferences to the sea, and the birds, and then using them to foreshadow Ednas end of lifedecision.The sea is typically used in order to express strength, life/ death, and calmness. In TheAwakening, Kate Chopin uses the sea as a way to communicate Ednas strength andempowerment. Two references that control this idea are made available one for thetransfor mation of her body and one for the transformation of her mind. Ednas learn-to-swimexperience transforms her body during her awakening. Overcoming her fears and learning toswim is a significant experience because it shows how she is able to gain control over her bodyThe voice of the sea speaks to the soul (Chopin). This is a powerful statement due to the eventthat it represents how Edna undergoes a dramatic change in character. She goes from listening and acting upon the influences of society, to following her own mind and innermost desires.These both play a large crash in understanding Ednas personal transformation from a quiet andfearful girl to an empowered and independent woman.Across many forms of art, birds ... ...el progresses, an awakening can be observed. Thisawakening greatly transforms Ednas body and mind. Kate Chopin makes this evident by heruse of references to the sea, the birds, and the foreshadowing of Ednas end of life decision.These quality connections show the s uffering, empowerment, and innermost desires of Ednathroughout the novel, The Awakening.Works CitedChopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York Herbert S. Stone and Co., 1899. Print.Garrett Brown, Kimberly. Dropping Hints and the Power of Foreshadowing in Kate Chopins The Awakening. Blogs Goddard. The Pitkin Review. Spring 2010. Web. 20 March 2015.Mascarenhas, Cheryl. Bird Symbolism and Their Meaning. Buzzle. randomness University. 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 March 2015.Shmoop Editorial Team. Birds in The Awakening. Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 March 2015.