FREE ESSAY ON THE AWAKENING

THE AWAKENING

Kate Chopin's novel "The Awakening" is full of symbolism. In each chapter there is a
central symbol that adds to the meaning of the story. Small symbols throughout the novel
such as sunshades, children playing and pianos represent properties of domesticity and
society rules which Edna tries to separate herself from. Chopin does however, give larger
representative symbols to add meaning to the novel.
The first line of the novel is perhaps the most obvious example of symbolism. A parrot
screeches "Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Saprtisti! That's all right!" which translates
to "Go Away! Go Away! For Heaven's sake!" This crazy bird in a cage represents Edna's
longing to go away and escape from the pressures of society. 
In chapter 27, Mme Reisz says to Edna "The bird would soar above the level of the plain
tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the
weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth."(533) Edna did not understand
this message but the reader knows it means. It means that if Edna is determined to break
free of societal rules than she must have the strength to "fly". In fact this is a
foreshadowing of her failure. In the last chapter Edna notices "a bird with a broken wing
was beating the air above, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water."(558)
She went down in the water, naked, to die. The nakedness is a very important symbol in
this novel. Clothing or lack there of, is a symbol.
In the beginning, Edna is projected to be a domesticated, societal woman. She is well
dressed with a sunshade, speaking to a young man. She begins this novel appropriately and
fully dressed. Slowly, as the story continues, Edna sheds her clothes. This shedding
represents the casting off of societal rules in her life. Finally, at the end of the
novel she has shed everything in her quest to find herself. She dies naked and free of
society.
It is not only Edna that is represented by clothes. Adele, in chapter seven, "more
careful of her complexion, had twined a gauze veil about her head."(478) Throughout the
novel, Adele is the perfect " mother woman", always careful of society and family. Adele
and Mme. Leburn are constantly making clothes to cover their bodies. Mlle. Reisz and the
lady in black never change, representing a distance from society.
The houses are symbols of the places for society. Grand Isle, where the novel begins, is
a societal place to Edna. This is where the "mother-woman" goes. It is like a cage to
Edna, full of rules. The house in New Orleans is the same, full of motherhood and
necessity to be the perfect societal hostess. Her home in Kentucky is mentioned a few
times but it is just like the home in New Orleans, full of society and bad memories.
The houses that symbolize a sense of freedom are the "pigeon house" and Mme Antoine's
cottage. The pigeon house is a place where she can create her own world to escape from
societal pressures. The cottage is a place of freedom and sleepy dreaming. It is foreign,
strange and yet relaxing because it is not "normal". Here she finds peace and is able to
get a resting sleep.
Sleep is a large symbol throughout the novel. After Edna's "awakenings" she sleeps
peacefully for long periods of time. It symbolizes her escape from reality and the repair
of emotions. Her sleep patterns vary with her emotions. A few nights she does not sleep,
leaving her to rest during the day. This is against people's natural sleep rhythms and
reflects her unnatural emotional pattern.
Her awakenings come at different times throughout the story. At the height of her
awakening is art. Edna sees art as a way of self-expression and self-assertion. It is
symbolic of freedom from society and failure.
Another major symbolic aspect is water. After struggling, she learns to swim in the
ocean. This empowers her and provides her with strength and joy. The bodies of water
cited in this novel represent freedom and escape. When she is committing suicide she
refers to the Kentucky field for a second time. This represents escape from society, as
the first time was escape from society as a child. Finally, in the end it is the field
and the ocean that free her completely.
The symbolism in this novel is strong in every chapter. Kate Chopin is a master of using
subtle aspects of writing as symbolism. Even the smallest detail or flow of language adds
to the story's meaning and emotion. The symbolism in "The Awakening" is not obvious but
is interpreted by the reader. Understanding the symbolism makes the novel more emotional
and comprehensible. Chopin displays great talent for the use of symbolism in "The
Awakening" because it truly adds to the meaning of the work.