Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Awakening Group 4 Question - Response
Trace Edna’s “awakening” as Chopin develops it throughout the novel. Explore the several ways Chopin builds this theme—through Edna’s exploration of self, her growing understanding of truth vs. self-deception, and the nature symbolism and motifs (grass fields, sea, birds, atmosphere). How do the lovers from Grand Isle and the woman in black figure into this symbolic scheme? Finally, comment on Edna’s final act. Does it represent triumph or defeat—or something much more complex?
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One of the prevalent themes in kate Chopin's "The Awakening" novel pertains to reality versus fantasy and Edna's inability to decipher between the two as she struggles to discover her true self. How does the incorporation of sleeping versus staying awake help to develop Edna's self-depiction and overall emotional well-being? (Use chapet 3).
ReplyDelete(Chinwe's quote)-- "Edna had once told Madam Ratignolle that she would never sacrifice herself for her children, or for anyone... I would give up the essential; I would give up money, I would give up my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself" (Chopin 63).
ReplyDeleteThis plays an important role in Edna's awakening. It helps develop Edna's logic when it comes to being married and being a mother. She seems to be prepared to make materialistic sacrifices for her children and husband, but that is not all that is necessary to be a good mother or wife. She is too selfish and vapid to sacrifice personal and emotional aspects of herself for her children. It is this way of thinking that leads to her awakening, proving her understanding of the truth, that she is not ready to be a mother or wife, seeing as emotional sacrifices are a large part in being good at either. Her heated argument with Madam Ratingolle helps play a part in the motif of truth vs. self deception. She lives with the deceptive hopes that many women truly feel the same way about life as she does, but do not express it. In reality her argument with Madam Ratingolle proves the singularity and loneliness that comes with her way of thinking. If a friend so close and understanding can not agree or even understand her logic, in truth, nobody else will.
(In response to Marlissa's quote)-- One can infer that Edna is happier awake than when asleep. When she is asleep, figuratively, and ignorant and neglective of her duties and responsibilities, she is more satisfied with life. Through chapter 3 it is perceived that she is completely not complacent with her life when she is awake, or rather when oblivion has escaped her and she is aware of how much she does not want to be a wife or mother. When her husband is awake and in a sociable mood with her she does not listen and is sleepy, but when he has fallen asleep she is fully awake and crying her eyes out. When she is awake she is out and about, not bounded by her responsibilities at home, but when night time comes she must return home and do her wifely and motherly duties, which seem to paralyze her and keep her from running from the truth.
ReplyDeleteTying into chinwe's quote: It is at this point in Edna's mental, spiritual, and emotional journey that she openly and willingly expresses the truth regarding her desire to obtain the part of her which is "lost". Edna realizes that although she loves her children and husband unconditionally, perhaps because she feels obligated to from her role in the Creole society, she loves herself more. The reality of her situation is that she is living an unhappy life of submission, always living according to the will of others. As she begin to experience several "awakenings",(in this cases her argument with Adele)the truth of her life is hightened and Edna inevitably begins to change.
ReplyDelete"The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace" (Chopin 18).
ReplyDeleteHow does Edna's experience, when she swims for the first time, relate to the symbolical role of the sea and Edna's exploration of self?
"An indescribable oppression, which seemed to generate in some unfamiliar part of her consciousness, filled her whole being with a vague anguish" (Chopin 8).
ReplyDeleteThis is Edna's first obvious sign of her ineveitable awakening soon to come. The only manner in which Edna seems to cope with her unhappiness is either to swim or cry, both which can symbolically represent the cleansing and renewal of her soul. It is also moments like then when she tend to be more reflective on her life and the events occurring in it for realizes that she is not personally content and begins to seek self-beneficial change.
This experience represents freedom. "As she swam she seemed to be reaching out for the unlimited in which to lose her self"(Chopin 37).
ReplyDeleteThis represents both a foreshadow of her adventure to be awakened and the beginning of her awakening. The sea is said to be seductive which clues the reader on her sexual awakening. She becomes a wandering soul and looses herself just as in the quote. She must be freed from herself in order to find herself. Swimming for the first time was her first act of loosening her bondage put in place by creole society. The symbolically represents the regression one must do in order to progress. In another way the sea represents seduction because it opens Edna's mind and allows her to control her own life, and to her freedom may be the most sensuous and seductive, intangible necessity.
(chinwe's 2 quote): As mentioned earlier, one of the few times when Edna appears to attain a "peace-of-mind" is when she is swimming alienated in the sea. She, ironically, seems to actually get satsifaction out of being alone. The sea is undoubtedly the most influential symbol in the novel for it is "the voice of the sea" (Chopin 18) that encourages Edna to initiate a new life and mentality of what she defines as persoanl happiness, and it is possibly also the sea that can cause the ultimate death of her soul, or being.
ReplyDeletein response to Marlissa( 10:47) Yes in a sense when Edna swims she is able to dream and think what she wants. She is not forced to censor her feelings because of what society may feel about what she says. In away the sea does act as a cleansing or baptism, but rather instead of washing away her sins, it washes away all the conventional and traditional mind-sets the creole society has forcefully tried to instill in her.
ReplyDeleteTo Marlissa's first question . . .
ReplyDeleteWhen Edna is asleep she is overcome with a feeling of relief and illusion. She uses this escape from the responsibility and structure of life that ultimately saddens her. In Chapter 13 while attending Mass she says, “A feeling of oppression and drowsiness overcame Edna during the service” (Chopin 47). She then chooses to leave and go ‘sleep’ at Madame Antoine’s house, a woman who she is not completely familiar with. There she says, “How luxurious it felt to rest this in a strange quaint bed, with its sweet country odor of laurel lingering about the sheets and mattress!” (Chopin 49). This feeling of exuberance that she is overcome with only happens when she is resting or ‘sleeping’. Note that when she returns home, her mood drops back to its dejected state where all she does is reminisce on the past days events. “She regretted that [Robert] had gone… The voice, the notes, the whole refrain haunted her memory” (Chopin 54).
"Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! Thats alright!' He could speak... a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mocking bird that hung on the other side" (Chopin 1).
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows one of the symbols of the birds. Okay, I said the parrot represent Edna and the mocking bird represented Mr. Pontellier. This is because the parrot kept saying for him to go away for God's sake, but yet ever day to mocking bird is always there on the other side of the parrot and this is symmetrical to Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier's relationship. In a way Edna is always finding away to push her husband away from her either through her action or words, but yet Mr. Pontellier is still always by her side and loving her as much as when he first met her. No matter how brutal or bluntly she tells him to go away, through her actions, he is always there for his wife, the way Creole men when taught. Also nobody understands to parrots second language, but the mockingbird, so I think Mr. Pontellier is always by her side because he understands his wife, the way she feels and who she is, like no one else, but she just does not give him a chance and cant hear that he understands, because she constantly pushing him away.
"The lady in black was reading her morning devotions on the porch of a neighboring bath-house. Two young lovers were exchanging their hearts' yearnings beneath the children's tent...Edna Pontieller...had finally [cast her eyes] upon the sea. the day was clear and carried the gaze out as the blue sky went..." (Chopin 21).
ReplyDeleteThe lady in black and the two romantic lovers are incorporated in the novel to show all of the things in which Edna lacks and desires to obtain. Unlike Edna, who is confined by the obligations of her marraige and motherhood, the lady in the black is always depicted as free-spirited and peaceful. She is always engaged in some activity alone, whether it being reading or walking. Edna longs for this sense of freedom and control. The two lover's relationship is undoubtly Edna's secret epitome of what she and Leonce will never have, and how she percieves her growing relationship with Robert. Edna then looks out towards the sea and horizon as if the answers to her problems are waiting there. All of these symbolic figures play a role in helping Edna to determine the logic of her situations and the realities of escaping them.
in response to Marlissa's quote (11:29). I actually think the lady in black and the two young lovers represents Edna and mrs. Pontellier. (and yes I know they are the same person). I think the lady in black, reading her morning devotions is Mrs.Pontellier, the Creole, conservative wife she should be, while the two young lovers show the life Edna never got to experience and no wants to. It shows two diverged options that she must choose from. Because she is not yet brave enough to make a choice she takes the less conspicuous route, the sea, which enables her to dream and think freely about the path she wants to take.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Chinwe 10:47
ReplyDeleteAs previously mentioned Edna's learning how to swin plays a huge role in her 'Awakening'. She is beginning to find things out about herself that she never once realized. She thinks about all the time she wasted while she was "splashing about like a baby" (Chopin 37) in comparison to what she is doing now and feels power. The sea being such an inviting and pleasurable place only draws Edna in more. Her new found skill gives her strength and confidence. These are two traits that she never has held a firm grasp on before, and now that she has it, she is not letting go. "A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of signoficant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul" (Chopin 37).
Chinwe made a valid point by comparing the the yellow parrot and mockingbird to Edna and Leonce to represent their affiliation to one another. However, I believe that Leonce is unable to fully understand Edna due to her irrational behaviors and emotions. Edna, similar to the parrot, can be descirbed as a foreign creature brought into a new atmoshphere (the Creole Society) in which she is forced to adapt and change her Kentucky cultural identity. The birds can also be used to represent Edna's confinement to her society and "womanly roles".
ReplyDeleteugh! can i go to sleep now!!!!!!!!!! check the other groups... they barely posted anything!
ReplyDelete"As Edna waited for her husband she sang a low a little song that Robert had sung as they crossed the bay It began with 'Ah! si tu savais! (If only you knew)'...Robert's voice was not pretentious. It was musical and true. The voice, the notes, the whole refrain haunted her memory" (Chopin 54).
ReplyDeleteNow correct me if I'm wrong but I think that in some form or fashion this quote relates to Mr. Pontellier. Instantly into the novel the reader becomes aware that Edna shares a deep bond with Robert. One could even go to say that the bond is stronger than that of her marriage. Throughout the novel she spends all her time with Robert, has inside jokes with him, and finds him quite enjoyable. "Each was interested in what the other said" (Chopin 5). So we are already aware that Edna finds Robert charming and "true". Possibly more than her husband? Later in the quote she says that Roberts voice was not pretentious. Pretentious meaning unjustified, demanding, or unwanted. Is this in reference to the same type of 'demands' that she receives from her husband. Then in the last sentence she uses the word 'haunted'. I payed close attention to this selection of word choice. Haunted has a negative connotation but yet she is using it to describe someone who she cares so much about. My thought is that she is now 'awakening' and realizing that she is in love with Robert rather than Leonce, and it just a 'matter of time' before she does something about it. (Foreshadowing anyone?)
What do you guys think?
chinwe respond to my question!
ReplyDeletedefinately foreshadow & negative connotations! And as far as the music thing goes, Edna uses the song shared between her and Robert as a way to hold on to one of the few things, or people rather, that she enjoys(Robert).She knows that she is unable to "love" Robert due to her situations, so sharing passive moments and insiders with him provides her with the fulfillment by allwoing her to basically "cheat mentally".
ReplyDeleteyea chinwe respond! if i had to do it, so do you...
ReplyDeleteTo Marlissa at 11:30
ReplyDeleteI think you made a very interesting point about the lady in black being seen as peaceful and free spirited. I never thought about it in this perspective. I always seen her as a lonely individual. Think about the color black. Doesn't it connect with sadness and bad moods? Then in addition to that the author gives her no true identity. She is simply a nameless face and her role in the story can be left up to interpretation. Is it possible that Edna can see traits of herslef in the woman in black? I'll look at this more closely as we finish the novel.
But creative interpretation. It opened my eyes to a new perspective to the 'lady in black'.
yea i agree with every body (how cliche right), but I do. I think it is a foreshadow of something to come between Edna, and Robert. I also think the song was sung because they did not yet have the courage to say to each other what they really feel, seeing as Edna is a married woman. They used the song to speak to each other, knowing that the attraction to each other is already palpable enough, she is not yet ready to take the next step, y actually saying to him how she feels and vice versa.
ReplyDeletehappy now jocoby!!!!
ReplyDeleteTo Marlissa at 11:45
ReplyDeletesorry I'm late but . . .
I thought that Edna refused to adapt to the Creole soceity which is why she is acting out wth sudden outburts or irrational behavior. (remeber when she broke the glass vase and threw her ring on the floor, [Chp 17]) But i do agree with the statement that we can connect the bird to the confinements of the Creole soceity. She is different and is doing things unfamiliar to the people at Grand Isle, just as the bird speaks in a different language. And just as Mr. Pontellier left the Main House because he was annoyed and refused to accept the birds speech, I think that someone will also leave Edna, [hint.hint] because they will refuse to accept her foreign and unwanted 'language' and behavior.
thank you Chinwe ;]
ReplyDelete&& in response to your response.
"I also think the song was sung because they did not yet have the courage to say to each other what they really feel, seeing as Edna is a married woman."
I agree. they could possibly be professing their love for each other on the slick? lol
goodnight you guys.;]
I agree with Jocoby... and I am also officially going to sleep. Goodnight
ReplyDeleteGood discussion ladies.
ReplyDelete