Isle of Man

into “Go away! Go Away! For God’s sake! That’s all right!” The idea was that the birds spoke a language that people didn’t understand and Edna was misunderstood as well. Another symbolization that was presented was the ocean. When the ocean of Grand Isle was mentioned, The Awakening describes, “Or else she stayed indoors and nursed a mood with which she was becoming too familiar for her own comfort and peace of mind.” (Chopin, 1997). Edna felt free when she thought about the ocean as the…

In his novel Native Speaker, Chang-rae Lee argues that the learning English in and of itself is a method of cultural assimilation forced on immigrants and their families in the United States. This argument can be seen through the words and thoughts of Lee’s narrator. “‘The polls say people are against bilingualism,’ I said. ‘They’re against giving anything more to immigrants’” (37). Henry Park, the first-person narrator, says this in the present day to his coworker at the spy agency while…

Maria Edgeworth’s Ennui, when published in 1809 was meant to be a didactic tale, a moral piece of literature meant to entertain it’s decidedly English readers. However, as seen throughout the course of history, politics and comedy often go hand in hand. Edgeworth uses this idea to make some very interesting commentary about the state of the relationship between Britain and Ireland at the time, and what it meant to be truly British or Irish. Within the novel we meet the character of young Lord…

metaphorical awakening of a married woman named Edna. Throughout the novel, Edna deals with the temptation of her raging hormones and desires for other men. Edna also seeks to separate herself from the idea of a typical mother-woman and identify as equal to man. While I am all for the empowerment of women and equal rights, I feel that Enda fails to properly address pressing issues within herself. This leads to Chopin’s book leaving readers to shake their heads in disbelief at some of Edna’s…

and follows the spiritual journey of Edna Pontellier, a twenty-eight-year-old wife and mother living in New Orleans. While in Grand Isle for the summer with her husband, Léonce, and their two children, she finds herself displeased with her marriage and the conventional behavior it demands from her. Edna was very different from the other women residing at Grand Isle that summer. Not only was she a Kentucky Presbyterian rather than a Creole Catholic, but she was not a “mother-woman.” Kate…

In The Awakening, Kate Chopin uses the motif of music to describe Edna’s desires of becoming more independent and her mind’s vivid imagery, which subsequently provides a foreshadow. During the party at Madame Lebrun’s home in Grand Isle, Edna breaks away from the party and steps out onto the porch where she is admiring the view of the sea. Eventually, Robert comes to join her and asks her if she’d like to listen to Mademoiselle Reisz play the piano. While he goes to find her, Chopin writes:…

assertiveness. Men are supposed to be strong, independent and not need help from anyone no matter what the circumstances are. Masculinity in my opinion, is a truly strong man who is honest and open and willing to take risks. A strong man does not get his strength from hiding from his fears, yet from confronting them. People would see that as a man being vulnerable, but…

lashing it, as the waves daily beat upon her splendid body” (Chopin 26). Edna now understands that a woman has emotions that are important and recognizable and that those of a man are not more important. This is also seen when Adele plays “Solitude” and Edna thinks of the bird who left the naked man. Edna thinks about the naked man more than the bird, which is symbolic of a woman. This way of thinking emphasizes the views of men as opposed to those of women. Why is Edna drawn to Mlle.Reisz and…

separate themselves from the expectations of the society they live in, seeking to rid themselves of the feelings of oppression and unfulfillment associated with a life restricted by convention. After reviving her previously dormant inner self at Grand Isle, Edna engages in genuine romantic relationships to explore her growing independence, but her societal duties to her stifling marriage with Léonce restraints her from fully doing so. When she is back in New Orleans, Chopin reveals that Edna…

(Chopin 255). Edna’s search for her newfound independence is first shown when Edna lets go of the “mother-woman” image. Chopin lets the reader know, “Mrs. Pontillier was not a mother-woman. The role mother-woman seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle” (Chopin 39). And to further understand Edna, Chopin uses the symbolism of birds, clothing and her learning to swim.…