... society wherein women are obligated to marriage and child rearing. After her initial "rebirth" in the ocean, Edna's first stage in her awakening is to finally drop the outward facade of being a "mother-woman" and start to explore her new desires and creative interests (Chopin ... by gender roles; she needs to choose one path and commit herself fully to it. Thus, she attempts to commit herself fully to her awakening sense of self. This attempt brings with it the realization that the Victorian world in which she lives is not one where a woman ... gender roles, she decides to commit suici...

• Word Count: 1499
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... businessman, unexpectedly becomes aware of a sense of discontent in many aspects of her life, which begins to plague her. During her struggle for renewal, her complex, and often problematic, sexual awakening is accompanied by the presence of several other transformations which further complicate her plight. The evolution of Edna's spirit and demeanor is fueled by many changes, including the emergence of ... her artistic nature, the realization of her unusual attitude towards her children, and the deterioration of her social inhibitions. The awakening of Mrs. Pontellier's sexual dispositi...

• Word Count: 980
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... the birds and the treatment of clothing which constantly envelop Edna's quest for self-hood. The sea for Edna serves as a catalyst for her awakening because it operates as a sanctuary of freedom and a diversion from societal ties. Edna's sea operates as a symbol of self-knowledge outside away ... time of childhood and of a virtual regression into the womb. Edna welcomes these feelings because they are adolescent emotions suitable for a heroine belatedly awakening. The water evokes in Edna's memory a time when her body essentially belonged to only her and not of her husband or children....

• Word Count: 2022
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate