The Awakening: The Progression of the Protagonists' Independence

The Awakening, the main character Edna is a realized feminist mother that struggles to attain her wish of emancipation caused by double standards during the time of sexual oppression. She started off being an obedient wife, mother, and woman, and ended up to be an independent woman that realized being free is what’s right. Through Edna’s locked and determined feelings, Kate Chopin reveals that freedom could be achieved by rebellious behavior actions because everyone deserves freedom, not only men, by advocating symbolism, through social desire. Kate Chopin had infused the symbolism of the bird, that everyone deserves freedom, not only men. 

There was a “A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over: Allez vous-en! Sapristi!” (Chopin 3). Madame Lebrun had also owned a mocking-bird, which was also caged. In this scenario the bird represents Edna, the bird is constantly repeating “Allez vous-en! Sapristi” meaning “go away! For god’s sake!” towards Mr.Pontellier. A bird is not meant to be kept in a cage, both Edna and the bird are symbolized to be captured in a cage, which is society for Edna. Chopin had also purposely added the exclamation mark after the bird’s words, showing desperation and anger. In the end when Edna was going to the beach, there was a “bird with a broken wing beating the air above” (Chopin 226). The bird kept flying even with a broken wing, just like how Edna kept exploring however; the bird at last fell into the water. This shows that Edna had continued to fight for her independence, even though she didn’t have an opportunity to win, she didn’t lose.

Edna is not valued at all but she stood up for herself and did what she wanted to do. Edna is determined to fight for her freedom, and escape from this manipulative oppression from both the cruel society and a dominant husband. Leonce came home and 'thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in the things which concerned him”(Chopin 11). He was disappointed that there was something wrong, she was not actively showing interest like she regularly does. In the story he is the man of the house, Leonce was expecting Edna to give him the response he wanted. The author is trying to prove to the audience that it was normal to despise women at the time and place Edna was in. The relationship Edna has with Leonce is to only be satisfying Leonce. Edna couldn’t do much, everything she does is limited especially in that era. Chopin advances her argument by outlining Edna’s image as 'That woman, by her divine art, seemed to reach Edna's spirit and set it free' (Chopin, 78). 

When Edna left, she was really happy. Reisz was asking Edna questions but at this point Edna doesn’t even care anymore. Her cheerfulness symbolizes that she’s not going to tolerate getting controlled anymore. Chopin at last decides Edna freeing her soul, she is one of a kind that wants to tell the world it is not okay to put women down by moving away from a very critical society. Chopin again emphasized that Edna does not surrender, but gets defeated instead. “She understood now clearly what she had meant long ago when she said to Adèle Ratignolle that she would give up the unessential, but she would never sacrifice herself for her children.”(Chopin 107). Edna refuses to be put and tied down, so the suicide is Edna’s willing assertion of her choice, to “sacrifice” herself. She commits suicide to keep her dignity and independence. Edna died with her last act representing her as a determined woman. Even though she loves her kids and would kill for her kids, she made the final decision that her dreams, her life, are more important than her kids. This character development had impacted Edna, because in her mind it is not right. Edna gets defeated, but she doesn't lose. 

William Dean Howells gives an example of  'Editha,'  'lived again in the ideal,' (College Literature 27.2.28) society at the time was very pressuring and had a social barrier that almost stopped Edna from keeping on; however Edna chose not to surrender. Edna had lived most of her life waking up every day to suffer from the double standards, but realized she not only wanted to live with self-awareness, but also be controlled only by herself rather than live up to other people’s expectations. She thinks that is much better than living a life according to the narrow constricted “illusions” that society creates.In The Awakening, Kate Chopin reveals about freedom through Edna’s expressive actions by evoking symbolism, advocating her exploration of freedom through social desire. She had feelings of caged and trapped; however, character development had made her realize social ideals are not always right. This had caused her to make action to protest and go against social standards.