Blog Assignment

What are examples of symbolism in Kate Chopin's The Awakening?

There are many examples of symbolism in The Awakening, but the ones that seem to stand out the most are the symbols of the sea and the birds. Both the sea and the birds represent freedom to Edna and probably to most women in the Victorian Era. Like the birds, the women's movements and decisions are limited by society. As the novel begins, Kate Chopin compares Edna and other Victorian women to the birds in the bird cages, trapped. For Edna, this is not a big deal at first because she does not know what she is missing and has not yet begun to awaken. Edna has everything and is well taken care of by her husband; she is not wanting for anything materially but still trapped. Edna cannot fly away to freedom; she is tied by social constraints and especially by her family. When she tries to escape from her lifestyle after her realization, she goes to a pidgeon house, which is also indicative of her still restricted lifestyle. The ocean also is a symbol of freedom to her. She is very elated to learn how to swim and sees this as a huge achievement and also at the end of the novel uses the ocean as what seems to her, the ultimate freedom.