What Does Edna Pontellier's Life Mean

Imagine that you are coming to the realization that you are a nobody. That you are just an average person in an average society. Chopin's story The Awakening in Chopin's story symbolizes the realization that the main character and protagonist comes to. Edna has become awakened by the end of the story because she realizes that the life she left was the life she cherished the most. Her new life was not what as luxurious as she thought it was going to be. This caused her to reconsider all of the decisions she has made in the past. She comes to realize that she has no significant place in the world and or universe. Edna Pontellier was someone who seemed to be a loyal wife at first. A loyal wife in her society was seen as someone who could conform to their society's mold. Edna …show more content…
Her new life brought independence, which was a thrill. Yet, her old life was comfortable and something Edna was used to. Her new life was filled with excitement, but was disappointing for Edna. Edna knew that her leaving affected her children. Her children needed her, especially at the age that they are in their life. The children's mother was always the one person that was there to comfort them in a time of need. Edna Pontellier missed the luxurious life that she had before she did all of these wrong things with her life and future. She missed her old life, even though she wasn't satisfied at this time, she knew it was the right and truthful life to live. For Edna her "Awakening" came when she knew she didn't want the new life anymore, but she knew she couldn't go back to her previous life. This was demonstrated within Chapter 6, when Kate Chopin states “Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her.” (Chapter 6 p.17) This life struggle could have led Edna’s decision to commit suicide in