Edna's Grand Isles In The Awakening

Chopin uses the Grand Isles as one of the main settings where Edna finds herself. The Grand Isles is where Edna and her husband take a little vacation with their two kids. Her husband is mostly away working so Edna always found time for herself. With this extra time Edna was able to spend a lot of her time with her best friend who are completely different, Adele Ratignolle. As Edna spends more and more of her time with Adele she gets to see what life with freedom is like. In the Grand Isles most of the people there are Creole. Creole people are more open then Edna has ever seen where she lives. Edna seeing this makes her become more exposed to a less prudish lifestyle which she seems to like. With Edna hanging out with Adele so much it opens …show more content…
At her home back in New Orleans, Edna now begins her full on painting hobby. Edna seems to not care about anything else except her happiness. As Edna becomes more independent she starts to worry people. Her husband, Leonce is worried and wants to figure out why she is being so difficult. Leonce gives Edna space, which leads Edna to move into her new home. Edna wants to now be her own person and live her own life the way she wants to. Edna becomes a newly found woman in her new home and runs free of any real responsibilities that society wanted her to have. With Edna’s newly found life without Leonce in the picture, Edna explores her options with Alcee Arobin. Even though Edna is still seeing a man she keeps her head on rights and keeps what she’s always wanted, which was freedom from a man. While still being separated from Leonce, Edna goes to see the racetrack. The racetrack is almost a symbol for Edna of danger and excitement. Edna is able to feel excitement when she spends her time with Arobin. Edna chooses the racetrack because it makes her feel alive and free to do what she wants with her time. The racetrack lets Edna forget about her old responsibilities at home and lets her be the