... 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 from the shore. Her first swim is a baptism, a rebirth of a new self -propelled identity. In chapter two Edna's eyes are transfixed upon the water, similar to RIP's gaze upon the Hudson River, This static scene of the mesmerizing water brings Edna back to an earlier ... time of childhood and of a virtual regression into the womb. Edna welcomes these feelings because they are adolescent emotions suitable fo...

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