An Analysis of Edna's Character Development in Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Kate Chopin's novel The Awakening, gives the description of a woman in the 19^th century, living up to the expectations of a woman in that time period. The novel opens at Grand Isle, where Edna, Leonce, and their two children are on vacation. Her new friends and surroundings influence how she thinks. She becomes an independent woman, breaking away from the everyday duties of a woman in that time. Her independence consumes her so much that she forgets everything she has come to known. Edna Pontellier develops throughout the novel, the change ultimately leading to her awakening and then her death. Edna is seen as a woman trapped by society's expectations, a woman trying to escape the boundaries that surround her, and a woman who accepts that she failed to reach her freedom.

At the beginning of the novel, Edna is viewed as a woman trapped by the boundaries of society. The novel opens with a parrot and a mocking bird trapped in a cage. The birds' lack of freedom symbolizes how Edna is trapped by society's constraints and her husband's expectations. It is easily seen that she does not enjoy her relationship with Leonce because she talks to Robert and tries to develop a relationship with him. Leonce becomes upset, and he is disappointed by Edna's actions. This situation clearly demonstrates that Edna is still trapped and not living up to her husband's expectations. Not only does she feel that her husband is holding her back, but she also feels the constraints that are put on her by her children. It is evident from the beginning of the novel that Edna is not the mother-like type of woman. She does not care for her children often, as she thinks the children can survive on their own. This is proven when her husband states, "He reproached his wife with her inattentions, her habitual neglect of the children" (p.7). This evidently demonstrates her lack of attention to the children. However, Edna must comply with her family's and society's expectations as she is not free.

Edna begins to change and sees herself becoming free from society and her family. Not only is Edna a woman trapped by society's constraints, but as the novel progresses she develops into a woman who sees herself free from society's expectations. The birds come up repetitively in the novel, and they symbolize Edna's development in becoming a free woman. The next time the birds are mentioned in the story, Edna has a vision of the sea and a naked man. The man has no clothes, symbolizing his freedom in society. She also envisions birds flying free through the air. The birds can be a representation of the freedom Edna tries to achieve. However, her vision is only a dream, showing what it would be like to have freedom. Edna has an image of her freedom, and she is trying to conquer it. She has a conversation with Mademoiselle Reisz, and she says to Edna, "The 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" (p. 138). Mademoiselle Reisz tells Edna that she must be strong and committed to get her freedom and break away from her family's and society's expectations. The reader can start to see Edna breaking the bond between her and her husband. She refuses to attend the social gathering at her home on Tuesday. She begins to question her husband's authority because she does not want to be seen as a possession. However, Edna truly confirms that she is leaving her husband when she decides to live in her new house. She leaves "without even waiting for an answer from her husband regarding his opinion or wishes in the matter" (p. 141). Edna does not want Leonce to control her. She wants to be a woman with total freedom.

As the novel continues, Edna is eager to become free, but she realizes that she will never accomplish this goal. Edna has essentially come a long way in developing throughout the story. However, at the end of the novel, she accepts the fact that she cannot escape her family's expectations along with society's pressures. She then decides to drown herself in the ocean. "A bird with a broken wing was breaking the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water" (p. 189). This bird unmistakably symbolizes Edna's failure to acquire her freedom. The bird crashes to the Earth, similar to how Edna plummets in society. She accepts that she has not conquered her freedom. She then realizes that she will never get her freedom and decides to kill herself.

Edna Pontellier develops a great amount throughout the novel; the change inevitably leads to her awakening and then her death. Edna and her actions are similar to the many individuals who fought in the women's rights movement. Women's rights have improved tremendously ever since the movement started. People similar to Edna achieved women's rights. They were determined and did not follow the ordinary routine in a woman's life. Today women and men are viewed equally as they have the same legal rights. However, the question still remains. Are men and women truly equal in today's society?

1) The Awakening by Kate Chopin
2) http://www.womenwriters.net/domesticgoddess/sprinkle.htm
3) http://www.loyno.edu/~kchopin/
4) http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/chopinawake/menu.html
5) http://www.literarytraveler.com/literary_articles/kate_chopin_awakening_grandisle.aspx