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How Does Chopin Use Birds In The Awakening

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Waves of warm salty air fills the island of Grand Isle as Edna Pontellier and other Creole vacationers settle in. Time coming and going as romantic affairs interfere with the lost love of Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier. Continuous disregard to the roles of a wife, mother, and social aspect to the public, set intentionally. Action and consequences made to overall, achieve the dream of independence. In The Awakening by Kate Chopin, the use of birds and houses are symbols that illustrate the desire for freedom under the pressure of society rule. From the beginning, the Creole society views Edna Pontellier as a stranger to their culture and eventually Creole customs. At the Lebrun’s main house, the narrator introduces and explains the importance of birds. Specifically, a caged parrot is known to “...speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood…” (1). Chopin uses this comparison to Edna and the bird in order to show her …show more content…

Just outside, Robert at the place of freedom accompanies Edna. Unlike her wealthy living in the past, she lives into what is known to as “... the little ‘pigeon-house’” (144). Pigeons are often characterized as free careless creatures and nothing too extraordinary. But for that reason, it relates to Edna’s situation because she wants to feel what it’s like to be careless and above all live in an average home. In like manner, the house expresses Edna and her style, which allows her to feel at home. Explained in great detail “The pigeon house pleased her…assumed the intimate character of a home… she herself invested it with a charm…” (127). Undoubtedly, Edna's typical home has brought out the best in her and allows her to carry herself to whatever that may be. It is the only place Edna can feel free from responsibilities and rules of society. In brief, the symbol of the pigeon is an important aspect to Edna's achievement of

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