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The Awakening Edna's Suicide Analysis

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It is no question that the ending of Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening is quite vague. What does Edna’s suicide represent? Is it a sign of triumph or an act of resignation? Regardless, there is a message that lives on even if Edna did not. While this book is about feminism and a woman’s right to establish her own authentic identity, it is actually about something more—something that concerns both women and men. The Awakening is about breaking free from the pre-determined labels society puts on you. It is about finding the daring to be you. The Awakening asks you to forget about that little box you live in—the one in which you wear certain clothes, only hang out with certain people, and define yourself according to the certain rules of a clique.

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