Edna’s Symbolic Swim in The Awakening

Edna's iconic swimming in "Awakening" was first read through "Awakening" and the article in Chapter 10 caught my attention: Edna was the first to swim successfully. I began reading carefully on page 49. "But that night, she walked boldly and confidently, walking alone for the first time, its small collapse, clumsy, child clutching, suddenly understanding its power.Her success, throughout the summer, And women, in some cases from children "with sudden help.

The sea and Edna learn to swim are the main signs symbolizing Edna's "Awakening". When Edna learns to swim, she becomes more independent and stronger. She became "bold and reckless" and "swim alone" (page 37). And it shows a sense of her newly discovered freedom. The sea is the first place she experiences feelings, freedom and expression, and the sea is her final destination. Her life begins with the sea. "Pontelliers has a very attractive house on Esplanade Street in New Orleans, this is a large double cabin with a large balcony and a round pillar that supports a sloping roof.The blind or blind is green, In the garden, various flowers and plants blooming in the southern part of Louisiana remained neat and neat.

After her first awakening, Edna started to depart from the prescribed role of "mother and daughter". She returned home after swimming and experienced "unlimited" Her "exciting fantasy" hoped to "lose himself" and she could not regain the fear of the coast. Robert took her to the cottage, Edna was lying in a hammock, and Robert was with her until the other swimmers returned from the beach. When he left, Edna experienced "first desire for him" for him. After Leonce returned from the beach, she was still in the hammock, but he insisted that she entered the house and went to bed. She told him to be fed up with his rude order and to tell her to leave her alone, and finally he said that she should not speak like that "she will not answer."

Water symbolizes life, ironically, Edna's awakening starts in the warm waters of the bay. Robert teaches Edna to swim farther in her fears and swim farther than ever. Swimming gives Edna a power and happiness, making her feel like a child. "But that night, she seemed to be the little cockroach, squatting, grasping the child, suddenly understood the power, walked alone for the first time, boldly and confidently" (Chopin 47) . It represents her resurrection or rebirth; she realizes her possibilities. Edna is underwater alone, there are no husbands or children nearby. It is only her and the sea. Swimming in the bay is her free and independent way; this is the beginning of her awakening. "Idena awakens herself, her personality, her unique position as one of the universe" (Skaggs 100)