Imer Bauta
English 11-3
The Awakened Symbol
In many literary works,
authors use numerous techniques to reveal a mental or psychological change that
occur in a protagonist during a story. Kate Chopin uses the ability to swim,
birds, and food to describe elements of the protagonists change. We are
initially introduced to these symbols in ÒThe AwakeningÓ and later we see their
actual meaning. These symbols teach us a lot about Edna from the authorÕs perspective;
however, Chopin doesnÕt directly tell us what her work says, she shows us
symbolically.
In ÒThe AwakeningÓ we see symbols that change as the story progresses, but more
importantly we see the ability to swim unravels the protagonist. Edna is the
protagonist and we understand that at the beginning of the story when she is
under her husbandÕs jurisdiction she canÕt swim. Edna becomes a different
person and she no longer listens to everything her husband tells her to do.
When she learns how to swim she learns how to think for herself and she starts
deciding things that she wants out of life. Swimming symbolizes EdnaÕs freedom:
ÒThe voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring,
murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to
lose itself in mazes of inward contemplationÓ(57). Through all this whispering
and clamoring Edna realizes she is one small woman and a small part to a
colossal world. We see that Edna reflects on her thoughts while she is in the
water, When Edna is in the water swimming she thinks of the complications of
her life but then realizes what a humble situation she is in, compared to the Òtangled,
chaotic, and exceedingly disturbingÓ(57) world that she lived in.
At the beginning of the story we see another symbol, Caged birds, which
signifies entrapment of Edna. The symbol we see is ÒA green and yellow parrot,
which hung in a cage outside the door (43), the cage symbolizes the entrapment
of a bird. The bird represents Edna the bird is trapped in a cage and Edna is
entrapped in her life. Mademoiselle Reisz was a constant factor on EdnaÕs
decisions, ÒShe put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if
my wings were strong, she said. ÒThe bird that would soar above the level plain
of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings?(138). Mademoiselle Reisz put
her arms around Edna to make sure that she will be able to fly. When a bird
flies it is no longer entrapped. The bird escapes its entrapment and then falls
into the water and dies. When Edna commits suicide she then achieves her true
goal as did the bird, which was to be free.
The third symbol, food, relates to affection and love. Chopin uses food to show
affection from one character to another. ?Both children wanted to follow their
father when they saw him starting out. He kissed them and promised to bring
them back bonbons and peanuts, (45). Early in the story Mr. Pontellier uses
food to show that he loves the children, and kisses them and tells them that he
will return with bonbons. Later in the story we see the same symbol reoccur,
?Edna ate her breakfast only half dressed. The maid brought her a delicious
printed scrawl from Raoul, expressing his love, asking her to send him some
bonbons,(162), Raoul sends for her love, and if Edna sends him some bonbons she
loves him. Of course she loves her son and surely sends him the treat. This
symbol of love and affection is hidden into food such as bonbons; Edna shows
her love by sending the Bonbons to her son.
The symbols we see throughout The Awakening tell us about EdnaÕs
character and things that led her to commit suicide. The caged birds which are
trapped signify the entrapment Edna feels in her relationship. Edna realizes
that she can do anything she wishes but she will always feel locked up,
committing suicide was her final hope to receive freedom. The ability to swim,
birds and food that Chopin writes about shows us elements of EdnaÕs change.
First it was freedom, then independence, and finally affection, these three
things ended EdnaÕs struggle and made her commit the ultimate sacrifice. Chopin
gives us these signs that later turn into reality and shows us the mental
struggles of Edna all through symbolism.