The Awakening - In place of Group Assignment

The Awakening is a book full of feminist images and symbolism. Some of the common images that are used repetitively are that of birds, all in different situations throughout the story, and they all relate to the stage of freedom that Edna is experiencing. The first image of a bird is that of the caged bird with the open door. In this image Edna is represented as a caged bird, one that can leave the cage but can leave. Even if it leaves though more likely than not it will return. This bird is introduced in conjunction with Leonce who is Edna's husband. The story describes the fact that Leonce is at times bothered by the bird's song, and when he grows weary of it he is free to quit its presence. This shows a strained relationship between Edna and Leonce. Whenever Leonce is weary of Edna he simply quits her presence and goes gambling. But, Edna cannot quit his presence becuase her home is right where Leonce always returns. She can fly to some other part but must always return.
The second image is that of the flying birds, symbolizing Edna's process of multiple awakenings throughout the story. She sees this image while she is out by the sea with Robert, who consequently is the one mostly responsible for Edna's Awakening (as she states at the end of the story). The flying birds show how Edna is finally seeing the world as she should, through free eyes and not through the iron bars of men's control.
The third image comes at the end of the story. It is of the bird with a broken wing, which is falling towards the sea below. This image is introduced when Edna returns to Grand Isle by herself. She sees this image right before she decides to end her life due to all the tension from her desires and obligations. This image shows how Edna is broken by the contradicting desires she feels in her heart. To either be true to her choice of marrying Leonce or giving in to her desires for Robert. According to mademoiselle Reisz her wings were not strong enough to carry her above prejudice and support her flight that contradicts societal norms of the times.
This book relates strongly with one of the first articles read in class, Gender in the Home, which gives examples of how Carribean immigrant women are expected to act. They are expected to stay in the home and tend to the household chores, such as cleaning the house and caring for the children. Women are also limited from leaving the house to pursue education or their own desires, whatever they may be.
It can be said that Edna has many Awakenings throughout the story. (1)When she refuses to follow Leonce into the house after her first swim. This is where she says she wants to go farther into sea, farther than any woman has gone before. (2) When she sleeps in strangers bed and awakes to see the world through different eyes. (3) When she chooses to move out from her home with Leone. This final one asserts her independence from Leonce and male domination. Possible 4) There can also be an awakening at the end of the story when she decides to commit suicide. Here, she comes to the realization that she cannot wholly be herself in this male dominated world. She feels she is not strong enough, although there were other women who were. Therefore she chooses to end her life by swimming in the sea which caused her first awakening. It is her final slumber.