... paragraphs of this chapter are the most important. They are stated at the beginning and the end of Edna"'"s treacherous journey. '"'The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in the abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace'"'(p. 477). The sea is a strong symbol in The Awakening. Throughout the book ... softly whispered in the back of her mind all through the b...

• Word Count: 1045
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... The Awakening, Kate Chopin conveys her ideas by using carefully crafted symbols that reflect her characters' thoughts and futures. One of the most important of these symbols, the bird, appears constantly, interwoven into the story to provide an insight to the condition of Edna and her struggle. At each of the three stages of her transformation, birds foreshadow her actions and emphasize the actions' importance while the birds' physical state provides an accurate measure of ... her feeling of freedom by using a rising bird. She speaks of two lovers who could feel "the beating of the birds...

• Word Count: 1017
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School