... novel, "The Awakening," focuses on Edna Pontellier, a woman struggling to find her true self while committing herself fully to being a wife and mother. In the process of this journey, she discovers that establishing her own personhood means losing a part of her identity as a mother. Edna looks to be the "brave soul," and a "soul that dares and defies" (Chopin 61). The ... " and "solitude" contradict this attainable freedom because they are only possible for Mrs. Pontellier if she encloses herself within the sea. The "space" she craves for is something she cannot have on land because she i...

• Word Count: 2199
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... Up until now she has splashed in the water like a baby, but now she has outgrown this situation and is seeking full development. Edna's learning how to swim can be seen as a metaphor for her awakening, her sudden terror in the middle of the ocean represents how difficult her journey to ... wife, due to some cause or cause which you and I needn't try to fathom."" This quote is a good example of the attitudes towards women at the turn of the twentieth century. As Doctor Mandelet and Mr. Pontellier's conversation makes clear, women were considered ill, or even mentally unbalanced, if they ....

• Word Count: 3098
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School