Introduction
The Awakening by Kate Chopin is about the awakening of a woman, transforming herself from an imprisoned person, living a life she may not have wanted from the very beginning into someone who takes control of her life. The writer uses a lot of sensory words and phrases, thereby creating sensory experiences for the reader. The reader can engage and feel experiences such as sound, taste, and striking visuals created in mind. Chopin includes all senses in her writing; for each scene she has, one can feel it, hear it, and know what it smells.
Kate starts by creating great visuals in our minds in chapter one. Mr. Pontellier hears the sounds of the birds coming from the main house and the piano duet by the two girls. Mrs. Leonces voice directing her servants (Gilbert 38) is heard, and his two boys are playing with other children as their nurse supervises them. The birds in the cage symbolize women and how their freedom is limited compared to the men who are free to move around and do as they please.
There is the use of local color and naturalism throughout the book. The story is set in New Orleans during the summertime. There is that humid feel, a lot of lash green written into the picture to give visual representation to the reader (Gilbert 45). It is by the ocean; therefore, there is a tropical sense even though it is not a low area. Things are written with a lash description to make them feel real. The setting alone brings people into a position where they can be intimate to bring about the idea of sexual freedom and sexual ambiguity.
Self Expression
Edna learns to express herself through art. One evening at a party, Edna experiences an intense emotional reaction to the music played by Mademoiselle Reisz, a pianist. Even though the music had previously created images in her mind, this time, she saw no pictures of solitude, but her passions were aroused within her soul. Mademoiselle Reisz notes that she and Edna communicate through music and states that Edna is the only one worth playing for at the party.
In chapter twenty-one, the pianist agrees to let Edna read the letter as she plays the piano. The music fills the room, floats upon the night over the housetops, and loses itself in the silence of the upper air. Edna sobs as the music end and leaves in disbelief, leaving Roberts's letter on the floor crumpled (Gilbert 119). The detailed description of the music creates a sensory experience for the reader while also expressing the two women's emotions in the room.
Edna becomes entitled to a piece by Madame Ratignolle called solitude (Gilbert 68). Every time Edna hears the song, she imagines a naked man at the seashore. The man seems to possess an attitude of hopelessness and resignation. Edna can experience a deep sense of emotional music through the song by creating her mind's images. The full description of how the music affected her, creating a very vivid sensual experience.
Even in silence, Kate vividly describes a moment where nothing could match the quiet within. Edna was inspired by Mademoiselle Reisz playing, and a thousand emotions ha sept through her (Gilbert 72). Edna then goes for a swim, which awakens her idea of freedom, and is followed by Robert. Edna realizes that she could swim by her strength. Kate says that no number of words could level up to the present moment, or more pregnant with the first felt throbbing of desire. Kate portrays the moment so silent that one could almost hear their breath.
In her development, Edna can detect the differences between the playing of Mademoiselle Reisz and Adele Ratignolle. At some point, Edna no longer chooses random pictures to accompany the music but can hear the music speak to her. The ability to differentiate indicates growth in Edna’s development. Mademoiselle Reisz plays the music for herself while the twins play the piano to entertain people. The more in-depth understanding of music indicates how Reisz awakens Edna to the idea of art. The desire to play for themselves rather than a crowd means the impact music has on the individual. It shows a feeling of connection between the person and the music.
Kate sets the book so that there are very many short chapters in the book, making them look like episodes. Kate portrayed Edna’s life as scenes or art pieces in Edna’s paintings when she did so with a new seriousness. Throughout the entire story, Edna is described as having a complicated relationship with her children. Her attention to her children is inconsistent as she behaves selfishly.
Edna`s Transition
Edna transitions from a caged parrot to a free-range pigeon to a dying bird (Gilbert129). The last bird in the book is described in the same scene in which Edna commits suicide by swimming out to sea. The bird's image with a broken wing plays off a conversation that Edna had with Mademoiselle Reisz. Edna narrates how when she left. Mademoiselle put her arms around her to see if her wings were strong. Mademoiselle Reisz said that the bird capable of flying above tradition and prejudice has to have strong wings. She admitted it sad to see the weaklings exhausted and flattering back to earth.
Conclusion
Chopin brings out the idea of how independence leads to solitude through her vivid description. When Edna starts to live in a way that portrays her desires and her true self, society judges her. Edna also learns that Robert is unwilling to go against the social norms to be with her, which leaves her feeling completely utterly alone (Gilbert 182).
Edna pushed social boundaries and wanted to create art that she believed. After all, her wings were not strong enough to fly above prejudice. In the end, Chopin gives Edna some peace of mind and rest when she commits suicide.
