Birds In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

In Chapter 27 of The Awakening, Mademoiselle Reisz advises Edna that “[t]he bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth.” (Chopin 216) Mademoiselle’s words translate to Edna’s life as Edna experiences an awakening of her true self. Throughout the novel, birds serve as a representation of Edna’s lack of freedom and independence. Madame Lebrun’s parrots in Chapter One were described as an annoyance upon Mr. Pontellier, as the birds spoke “…a language which nobody understood.” (Chopin 1) Mademoiselle Reisz’s reference to “…the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth” (Chopin 216) comes alive in Chapter 39 when Edna is naked, facing the Gulf of Mexico. In the distance, “[a] bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water.” (Chopin 299) The falling bird on the beach represents Edna’s …show more content…
Wives of Victorian men are held with many restrictions, similar to a bird in a cage. In Edna Pontellier’s case, Mr. Pontellier treats Edna as his pet; he takes care of her financially and physically, but when it comes to emotional connection, there is none. In Chapter 19, Mr. Pontellier calls on Doctor Mandelet to find out why Edna has “…got some sort of notion in her head concerning the eternal rights of women” (Chopin 169) Confused as to why a woman would be so concerned about her own self, the doctor asks if Edna has “...been associating of late with a circle of pseudointellectual women – super-spiritual superior beings.” (Chopin 169) Just as a bird owner cannot communicate with their bird on the same level, Mr. Pontellier is unable to communicate with Edna; he feels as if he must consult a doctor about Edna’s