In Kate Chopin’s, The Awakening, readers can anticipate an eye-opening experience or revelation from simply reading the title of the novel. Edna Pontellier, the novel’s protagonist, experiences a unique awakening that forces her to question not only her societal role, but her own self identity. Kate Chopin presents feelings of isolation, freedom, and solitude within the mind of Edna, in a way that is all consuming. This consumptions adds a level of drama to the novel as these feelings take over Edna.
Kate Chopin uses the power of music to provoke psychological growth. Edna is very fond of music, whether she is playing or listening to Madame Ratignolle play. It is in these moments, when Edna’s fingers touch the keys of the piano, or her ears fill with the harmonious melodies, that images are created in her mind. At the sound of the keys, Edna experiences multiple illusions that remind her of someone or something in her own life. One in particular is the vision of a nakedman, who appears alone and free as he stands on a rock. Chopin uses this musical passage to foreshadow a possible state of freedom and solitude, Edna will one day …show more content…
Sleep is a very powerful and puzzling state, as what lies within the mind of an individual when they are sleep, is often a mystery and uncontrollable. Certain moments of Edna’s awakening are followed by prolonged periods of sleep and vice versa. Readers do not know exactly what Edna’s dreaming, but when she arises, Edna experiences a change in personality. It is as if her awakenings have manifested while she sleeps. In one instance, Edna wakes up from a restful slumber not knowing how long she’s been asleep, asking how many “years” it has been. She refers to herself as a “past relic”, as if in the moments of relaxation and meditation, a real change has been made. Waking up is essentially a clash of the real world with the the world in Edna’s
Kate Chopin uses the power of music to provoke psychological growth. Edna is very fond of music, whether she is playing or listening to Madame Ratignolle play. It is in these moments, when Edna’s fingers touch the keys of the piano, or her ears fill with the harmonious melodies, that images are created in her mind. At the sound of the keys, Edna experiences multiple illusions that remind her of someone or something in her own life. One in particular is the vision of a nakedman, who appears alone and free as he stands on a rock. Chopin uses this musical passage to foreshadow a possible state of freedom and solitude, Edna will one day …show more content…
Sleep is a very powerful and puzzling state, as what lies within the mind of an individual when they are sleep, is often a mystery and uncontrollable. Certain moments of Edna’s awakening are followed by prolonged periods of sleep and vice versa. Readers do not know exactly what Edna’s dreaming, but when she arises, Edna experiences a change in personality. It is as if her awakenings have manifested while she sleeps. In one instance, Edna wakes up from a restful slumber not knowing how long she’s been asleep, asking how many “years” it has been. She refers to herself as a “past relic”, as if in the moments of relaxation and meditation, a real change has been made. Waking up is essentially a clash of the real world with the the world in Edna’s