Edna's Suicide In The Awakening
The ending of Kate Chopin's novel “The Awakening” has been long debated over whether or not the main character Edna commits suicide in the end. Many critics and readers argue that her death, in the end, was not intentional and rather the consequence of her actions. Others believe that she never actually died in the end and the book ends before she swims back to shore. Contrary to these ideas, I think that Edna's suicide was intentional as she had planned it right after she found Robert's notes saying he was leaving. She planned the suicide that night not specifically wanting to die but feeling as if she had no other choice and death was her last hope at an “awakening”.
After Edna comes home and reads Robert's note on the counter that says
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Professor Abassi wrote in “The Masculine Sea and the Impossibility of Awakening in Chopin's The Awakening” that contrary to popular belief the sea represents male society and not freedom. However when she says that “I would give my life to my children, but I wouldn't give myself.” (64) makes me believe the sea is not representing men as she would rather die than give up who she is. If Edna was not willing to give up who she was for her children I don't think she would have given up who she is because of defeat but rather because she would rather not live as who she is than continue living as someone she doesn't know. By killing herself in the water I don't think she achieved liberation from her struggles, dying for her was just a last option. However, I also don't think her death was her officially failing to be freed, it was her using her freedom to take control of the last thing in her life that she could. She had all she loved ripped away from her and she knew her death was the only real thing in her life that she had full control over at that point. “Even as a child she had lived her own small life within herself. At a very early period, she had apprehended instinctively the dual life - that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.” (18) Edna has always lived a double life, half what society wants and half what
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1089 Words | 5 Pages“She was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world” (Chopin, p. 57). A novel written by Kate Chopin, The Awakening shares the story of Edna Pontellier’s journey of self-discovery. Readers of the day were shocked by the content of the novel. Published in 1899, Kate Chopin’s controversial novel portrays a woman liberating herself from society’s expectations for a lady. Edna changes from a bored, obedient wife in the beginning of The Awakening to a liberated woman who can freely express her feelings.
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1269 Words | 6 PagesAt first it might seem Edna does not care about her children, but in reality, Edna cares about her children, even if she has to sacrifice her life. But she won’t give up herself as a person. Mr. Pontellier was angry at his wife for not doing what she is suppose to do as a wife. Edna said the her husband, “I feel like painting….Perhaps I shan’t always feel like it”(108).
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1837 Words | 8 PagesShe summarizes this thought when she says: “‘I would give up the unessential; I would give up my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself’” (Chopin, 46). This sentiment is repeated moments before her suicide, because at that point, she truly understands what she means. For her, her body and life is what is tying her down, and because Edna feels as though she can conquer death, for her it is what will give her the true freedom of soul and self that she feels she cannot find in society. For both the boy and Edna, the attractive nature of the sea shows how excessive individualism can be
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603 Words | 3 PagesEdna even says herself, “I would give up the unessential…my money…my life for my children, but not myself.” For her life, Edna realized that means her marriage and physical life. As far as her marriage, Edna was never truly happy with her marriage with Leonce. Furthermore, Edna states she truly cares for her children, but sometimes her search for herself may conflict with this. This then further discourages readers even more due to the fact that this gives insight to her actions, and somewhat justifies them.
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1386 Words | 6 PagesThe other reason makes Edna realize her own self is swimming, as if a release to her. Refer to what she said in the novel, to beyond other women, it can express that her aspiration on being alternative and get rid of the constraint from the society. Also that is the first body contact with Robert, she find herself in the ocean, and there is the place she longing, also aware of the freedom. Robert, is a boy she falls in love with, yet she aware of that, if she marries to Robert, her future just same as now, she will lose her freedom.
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225 Words | 1 PagesEdna was flabbergasted that Robert did not share with her that he is leaving for Mexico. Edna is very much infatuated with Robert in an immature sense while Robert is mature enough to realize that they cannot have a serious relationship because she is already married. She clings to his hand when he is about to leave and she wants him to write but in return receives a simplistic answer. He knows he cannot further develop his feelings for her, but Edna fails to understand why. Although he tells Edna he is leaving for business matters, he is going to Mexico because he knows he cannot be with Edna and he does not want any more temptations.
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