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The Importance Of Birds In Kate Chopin's The Awakening

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The Awakening by Kate Chopin is a novel about a mother, known as Edna, in the Victorian era who explores who she is and how she is unhappy with her life in high-class society. The novel ends with her admitting defeat and drowning in the ocean at a resort. Furthermore, throughout the novel, there are many signs of symbolism that the author conveys in order to properly illustrate Edna and her emotions. Chopin uses the moon, sea, and birds in order to do so. One symbol Chopin maintains is the moon. Throughout the novel, the moon is shown consistently to represent Edna and her gradual understanding of herself. Like Edna, the moon is always changing, the moon goes through many phases; interchanging between full brightness and complete darkness. …show more content…

In the book, birds represent Edna and the women within Victorian society. At the start of the book, two birds are shown trapped in a loud and panicked state as Leonce sits calmly reading the newspaper. However, Leonce becomes annoyed by the birds and moves to a quieter area, free from the noise. The birds represent Edna due to her feeling trapped and unable to make choices on her own while Leonce is able to do as he pleases, simply moving away from the things that displease him while being able to act and enjoy his life as he wishes. Meanwhile, Edna is trapped by the social conformities she is forced to endure and is even viewed by Leonce as a form of property; much like the birds at the beginning. Birds are also symbolized in Edna's conversation with Mademoiselle Reisz when Reisz states to Edna, "The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings" (pg. 83). Implying the freedom that birds symbolize and the capabilities of Edna if she maintains her composure and confidence, and how Edna will be able to fly above the expectations of the people around her. Finally, at the end of the novel, "A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water" (pg. 115). This image foreshadows Edna's soon escape from society, not from flying, but from drowning in the ocean in front of

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