After everyone has posted, on Thursday afternoon, respond to two of your classmates' critical responses. Do not be critical of one another's writing, but focus more on the content, or ideas, of the paragraph. Did anyone include something that you haven't thought about before? Can you add more evidence to someone else's argument? Do you completely disagree with someone's argument? Please remember to be considerate when commenting. The purpose of this is to stimulate discussion :)
In The Awakening, Kate Chopin uses a redirection of detail in order to intrigue the reader and simulate their imagination by failing to elaborate on what Robert wrote about Edna in his much-anticipated letter. As Edna begins to read the letter, the "shadows deepened" and the "music grew strange and fantastic." By using verbs that imply the strengthening on an action, Chopin builds up the suspense to what may be included in the contents of the letter. Then, Edna begins to sob and rather abruptly leaves. Chopin fails to include any detail about the actual contents of the letter nor why Edna reacted as strongly as she did, leaving endless possibilities for the reader to contemplate.
ReplyDeleteEryn, I briefly thought about what the letter held and why Chopin didn't include anything specifically about the letter but I hadn't thought about it in this way before. You brought to my attention that Chopin uses the surrounding details of the environment to convey what the letter might hold. I think Chopin did this not only to get the readers imagination going, but to create some sort of suspense that draws the reader in and make him/her desire to read more. The details about the music and Edna's response to the letter make the reader more interested in finding out what the letter holds.
DeleteOn page 102 of The Awakening, Kate Chopin's describes with vivid detail the scene where Alcee Arobin is alone with Edna. Arobin is flirting with her, and every detail from him showing her the saber cut scar on his arm to his description of his youth life is included, slowing down the pace at which the reader takes in the scene. It is as if time slows down for Edna when Arobin is flirting with her, meaning that she is entranced by his presence. Chopin also describes the fire. It is burning during the intimate conversation and dying as Arobin puts on his hat to leave. The fire parallels the sexual tension of the two characters. Though she forces him to leave after the moment passes, the situation foreshadows a sexual relationship between Edna and Arobin.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think to relate the two happenings when I was reading this part in the novel. I completely understand where you are coming from when you say that the description causes the reader to slow down his pace and take time getting through this section. I agree that this directly relates to the fact that when Edna is with Alcee it is as if everything is happening in slow motion. What amazed me while reading your critical response was the parallel between the burning fire and the sexual tension between Edna and Alcee. This brought a whole new way of understanding the situation to my attention.
DeleteI never considered the relation you made between the detailed descriptions and the slowing down on time, but it definitely makes sense and intensifies the sexual tension.
DeleteYour analysis of this scene is great. I didn't think about how the listing of every detail could make it seem as if time was slowing down, but it makes perfect sense. I've also never thought about the relationship between the fire and their sexual tension and passion.
Delete(ugh hopefully this will post this time) I agree Chopin is foreshadowing some sort of sexual relationship at this point. I think Arobin is sort of meant to represent some sort of sexual "awakening" for Edna. I never considered the excessive amount of detail being as if time is slowing down for them, though, which I thought was really clever.
DeleteDuring Edna's visit to the Ratignolle's for dinner, Chopin gives extensive detail on everything having to do with their lives from their meeting, job, family, and looks, to contrast from the Pontellier's failed marriage. Chopin acknowledges that "Madame Ratignolle looked more beautiful than ever there at home," in her natural life, something which Edna has struggled to fake for a while. Mr. Ratignolle is described as the seemingly perfect husband with "unbounded cheerfulness," a good heart, common sense, and even an accent. All of which were things that Edna's husband lacked. Chopin's great detail on the "fusion" of the apparently perfect Ratignolle's and their harmonious life, brings forth how dysfunctional and imbalanced the Pontellier's are, without even having the mention it. This unstated claim becomes a lot more evident not only to the reader, but also to Edna herself. Creating a unintended catalyst, foreshadowing the end of the Pontellier's marriage.
ReplyDeleteI found this part of the book to be very engaging because, like you said, it does go into tremendous detail that is too extensive to not pause and analyze. I just wanted to add that I found it interesting that Chopin would choose to incorporate a meal in this part. When Edna sits to eat with them at the table, she wishes for an "herb dinner" but instead another diner is served, but this diner is "simple" and "in every way satisfying." I believe that the meal illustrates the communion Mr. and Mrs. Ratignolle share. Despite the delicious meal, Edna feels leaving sick, not literally sick, but "depressed" after seeing the "domestic harmony" that she does not desire.
DeleteRaxel, that's an excellent analysis of the description of the meal and its effects. I took it as a contrast between the perfect Victorian era couple, the Ratignolles, and the failing marriage of the Pontelliers. The Ratignolles represent everything that a couple should be. They are perfectly in sync. Adele is a good mother who minds her duties about the house and only in her spare time works on her music. Mr. Ratignolle is the perfect husband. He treats his wife well and makes a good enough living to keep his family living comfortably. He is high-standing in the community as well. This description of the perfect family contrasted sharply with the Pontelliers. I think Chopin used it to demonstrate just how far Edna had deviated from the norms of society and how far apart from the typical woman she had become.
DeleteDuring Edna's first day in her home after her husband and children leave, Chopin utilizes great detail to describe every little thing Edna does, from breathing in a sigh of relief, to sitting in chairs, to gardening with the children's dog. There is a major similarity in all of Edna's activities, everything feels brand new to her. The flowers are described as "new friends" and the kitchen has a character "she had never before perceived." By giving Edna a fresh perspective on these items, objects that she sees everyday, reveals to the reader that she is feeling a sense of freedom she has never experienced before. She is in the house on her own without her husband to dictate how things are going to be for the first time, and is taking full advantage of it. Whether she may be just sitting in a chair or giving directions to the cook.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing when I read this. I also noticed that as she gained her fresh perspective on things she began to take on more personal responsibilities for herself. She also starts to spend more time alone focusing solely on herself and her interests by refusing to take visitors and spending most of her time painting. She only really interacts with people when she has them sit as models for her or she decides she wants to go see someone (either Adele or Madam Reisz).
DeleteIt seemed as if she was like a child; unrestrained and with everything being perceived as a new experience or object. This seems fitting because of her yearning for her youthfulness. Now that her husband and children have left, she can pretend as if they were not there to begin with and that she is back before she was married where she can make her own decisions without Mr. Pontellier dictating what she should and should not do.
DeleteI agree with your perspective on this scene. Just thinking about what life was like for women back in this time period, it must have made Edna feel so powerful to be able to do these things she has never done before. She's finally free to not be dominated over and she almost acts as a little kid seeing certain things for the first time when she goes into the garden and also when she could finally give orders to her the cook. You did a really great job analyzing Edna's sense of freedom and how she is much happier without her husband around to oppress her.
DeleteUpon Edna's dinner with The Doctor, she relays the story of a woman running away with a lover to the Baratarian Islands completely from her imagination. As she tells the others of this event, she includes vivid details to create an image of freedom and escape granted on the island. Chopin included that the guests could hear the "beating of the birds' wings", a recurring image Edna refers to in her quest for independence from Robert along with the inclusion of the pale faces of the two lovers drifting into the unknown. With these details, Edna conveys a new start in the pale faces of the lovers who are not burned or freckled by any marks of the past so they are able to quietly drift into an unknown where others may not know them and they seem to not know themselves. In this scene, Edna's desire to begin again is unusually apparent as she includes the detail that she may have dreamed this experience. Even though she can't blatantly state her desires, through the details she employed over a simple dinner, The Doctor immediately knows what she is "suffering" from.
ReplyDeleteI love this interpretation! I didn't think about the lovers escaping to the Baratarian Islands as "not burned or freckled by any marks of the past" as you said. I think that's a great point to make. I agree, I believe that Edna does want a fresh start in the world of love and passion, but I'm not sure that she wants independence from Robert more so as a relationship with Robert. She seems to be completely infatuated with him and confesses her love for him at Madame Reisz's. Based on that, I interpreted her story of the Baratarian Islands as sort of a goal for her- to escape the current world that she is in, with Robert.
DeleteAfter Edna's argument with her father over her not attending her sister's wedding, Mr. Pontellier follows the Colonel. In their brief conversation, the Colonel revealed the source of Edna's oppression: himself. By saying "...coercion... [is] the only way to manage a wife," the Colonel reveals that he was hard and strict on his wife, "coerc[ing] [her] into her grave." Edna grew up with this oppression and most likely watched as her mother was forced into submission by her father. Therefore, when Leonce begins to act in similar ways, something deep within Edna "awakens" her, playing on the memory of her father's strictness, and makes her want to be free from the dictatorship of husbands that she believes is present in all marriages.
ReplyDeleteI really like your interpretation of this. I never considered that Mr. Pontellier is pretty much turning into her father, therefore causing her to unconsciously want to break free from his oppressive ways. Although, I do think Edna still has some sort of hope that not all men are like her husband and father. Mainly because, to me, she seems envious of the Ratignolle's marriage and Mr. Ratignolle is described as the perfect husband who seems to have everything her husband lacks, which in effect means that he would lack the oppressive manner that her husband possesses.
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DeleteWhen reading, I thought that the Colonel simply mirrored what Leonce was like, showing that is what men were like at the time. After reading your analysis, I agree with what you said. I never thought about how Edna's childhood came into play. It seems clear that Edna's childhood affected her awakening when Leonce acts the way her father did. It scares me that the Colonel uses the word "coercion." It is defined as "the practice pf persuading someone to do something by using force or threats." This is such a horrible way to deal with a spouse.
DeleteReading this I completely agree. I feel that Edna sees her husband in her father, much like she sees her self in the woman in black, if she were to stay to attached to this life. I also found this ironic because in the beginning of the book it mentions how at first her dad did not agree or approve of Leonce because he was not Catholic. Maybe there was more to his disapproval of him, perhaps Colonel saw himself in her fiance at the time.
DeleteAt the very beginning of Chapter 17, Chopin goes into painstaking detail about all the fine things that the Pontelliers have in their home. Instead of simply saying that the Pontelliers own a nice home, she describes things such as the carpets, draperies, paintings, and tableware. She also adds such details as, “kept scrupulously neat,” and “the envy of many women whose husbands were less generous than Mr. Pontellier.” The story then goes on to explain how he likes his possessions “chiefly because they were his.” The detail in this section greatly emphasizes how materialistic Mr. Pontellier is. He likes to purchase the finer things in life, just because he can and so that he enjoy just owning them. He doesn’t really even care what the item is, so long as it is in his possession. This materialistic view of his property also characterizes his treatment and view of his wife. He is proud of her, just because she is his in his own mind. He likes everything to be neat and in order, including his wife and her behavior. This gives reason to why he reacted so strongly when she began to make her own choices. Suddenly, his property was beyond his control, which he did not view as right or proper.
ReplyDeleteHey I wrote about the same thing! I agree with your intreptation: I think Chopin definitely meant to emphasize Mr. Pontellier's tendency to be just a lil too focused on material items, which is reflected in his view of Edna (Edna = object.) I think it's important to note that Mr. Pontellier is a Creole, who were viewed as elite members of Louisiana society, while Edna is not, which may contribute to Mr. Pontellier's attitude towards her as something that needs to be neat and presentable to society.
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DeleteI think it's funny that the biggest threat to his most prized possession is the possession itself. It is also important to at least realize that all family is proud of each other and wants the best for everyone. Where Mr. Pontellier crosses the line is when he captures Edna as his asset and nothing else. Does Leonce know how controlling he is? Even if so, that is what he is taught to do to run a family. I believe the detail in this section makes it more clear that Leonce treats Edna purely as a possession for his own enjoyment rather than a beloved family member. It characterizes his materialism so we can apply it to how he treats Edna. In the end, Edna remains inferior in a marriage trap.
DeleteWhen reading The Awakening, I did not stop to notice the detail used to describe Leonce Pontellier's posessions. Now it seems clear to me why Chopin would use such detail to describe the Pontellier household. This section is extremely illuminating in regard to Leonce's understanding of his wife. I am not siding with Leonce, but through his eyes, it seems reasonable to look at a spouse as property. For him, the act of possessing something is a grand achievement. This is very sad for Edna and other women in similar circumstances during the Victorian era.
DeleteI really like that you pointed this out. I saw the excessive amount of detail put into the description of the home, but I never connected it with Mr. Pontellier's possessive quality. He looks upon Edna as his does anything less that he owns. Something that must be protected and kept polished and perfect.
DeleteI completely agree with your analysis! I saw Leonce's controlling and somewhat owning personality in many other different instances, and this section made it a lot more prominent. Leonce was concerned about Edna going out on just to go out, which is much like he caring for where his objects were placed. Leonce even judges Edna at one point for what she wears to dinner, which mirrors his obsession with how his stuff looks. This is why Leonce gets so upset when Edna acts any way other than his view of the perfect mother-wife idea, since he is so obsessed with his image.
DeleteThroughout the story all the females hands are described in great detail. On page 3 Edna's hands are described as "...strong, shapely hands...", while later on page 11 Chopin says "Never were hands more exquisite than hers, and it was a joy to look at them when she threaded her needle..." when describing madame Ratignolle's hands. The details used when describing theses two characters allows contrasts to be easily made between these characters. These details can also be used to represent aspects of Edna and Adele's personalities. Showing Edna's hands as "strong" leads the reader to infer that Edna is less idle and more independent than her friend Adele who's hands show her to be more traditionally feminine and dainty.
ReplyDeleteI noticed this theme as well and I think they're very symbolic of the women's personalities in that Edna wants to be strong and independent while Adele is happy sitting back and letting everything continue as it's always been. Chopin also has also described Madam Reisz's hands on a few different occasions as "strong" and "wiry" in the same way that Madam Reisz is a strong woman who does as she pleases without worrying about societal rules. I think the fact that they're described as "wiry" also points to how her personality is sharp and disagreeable at times, but that her personality is also what stems the strength she needs to be her own person and not conform to traditional women's roles during this time. The hands theme has been present since the beginning of the novel and it really serves as a great indicator as to what each woman's personality is like.
DeleteI completely agree that throughout the entire novel Edna and Adele are constantly contrasted, and although I noticed the more obvious differences in their appearances, I never noticed that Chopin even describes their hands. I would say that your interpretation of their individual hand characteristics is pretty solid, and you definitely have text evidence to support your claim. I think its also important to note that their hands engage in different forms of art as well.
DeleteTessa, I also discussed the same thing in my details critical response. The description of the two women's hand illustrates a sharp contrast between the two. Edna depicted to be manly, different from the stereotypical women figure, while Adele has delicate and beautiful hands that make her look delicate and a woman like figure. The author also juxtaposes the two women with other importance appearance details such as differences in hair and eye color and stature.
DeleteTessa, while I noticed these descriptions, I never interpreted them in the way that you did. Your view of the details of each woman's hands added so much to the female characters as a whole for me. It seems as if Chopin uses this simple body part that is often known to be delicate on a woman to instead represent her personality and character traits, even calling Madame Reisz's strong instead of fragile. Small details like this one really help to gain an understanding of the writer Chopin is and the odd ways she must describe feminine characters.
DeleteWhile at Madame Lebrun's get-together earlier in the book, Robert asked Mademoiselle Reisz to play the piano for Edna. She played a song that Edna had enjoyed listening to before and named it "Solitude." As she listened, she imagined "a man standing beside a desolate rock on the seashore. He was naked. His attitude was one of hopeless resignation as he looked toward a distant bird winging its flight away from him." The seashore is where she has her deepest thoughts about what she wants in life and where she decides to swim out alone, beginning her awakening. She imagines a man naked, emphasizing her sexual desire. Chopin describes him as having an attitude of hopeless resignation, describing of Robert's attitude towards their future because Mademoiselle Ratignolle has pointed out that there is not chance considering Edna is a married woman. He watches the bird take his flight away from him, emphasizing further the chance with Edna being taken away from him. She named this song "Solitude," which means being alone. Without Robert and the freedom she desires, she feels alone in the world.
ReplyDeleteI also wrote about another significance of music in The Awakening. There isn't a single reference to music in the book that doesn't have an alternate meaning or trigger an event (such as the one you mentioned) and you have to be careful to see it. The title alone, actual meaning of the piece, sound of it, and the thoughts it triggers all are very important to consider.
DeleteIn Chapter 18 of Kate Chopin's The Awakening, Chopin's selection of detail do describe Edna's dress and appearance emphasize the internal changes Edna is experiencing. It seems strange that at this advanced point in the novel, the author would have to engage in describing a character that the audience is already familiar with, yet Chopin's details on Edna's physical changes emphasize the "awakening" in her. For example, Chopin notes that Edna appeared "handsome," as she did earlier in the novel, but also adds that she looks "distinguished," which reinforces that Edna's mentality is not only different than that of the rest of the women but that it is also noticeable. Chopin specifically describes Edna's face, perhaps because a person's face is how he or she is best identified and remembered. By stating that the "tan...had left her face" and revealed "smooth,white" skin depicts how Edna's facade of the traditional, gentle and submissive women has left her, and in its place is her fresh, new skin, or symbolically, Edna's true identity as a painter and individual woman in the world. The imperfections on her face, such as the freckles and the mole, represent the effects the harsh environment have had on Edna's exposed skin.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of this description of Edna's appearance this way. The fact that people are identified by their faces and that hers has changed is a great thing to point out. I really like the connection you made with her tan and her facade of being the traditional submissive woman because like the tan her facade is fading away. Now that her inner self is beginning to awaken she is changing, not only the inside, but also on the outside as well. She may still have scars from the experiences she had while holding up her facade but, she is not majorly affected by them much like the way no one is really affected by their freckles.
DeleteI thought it was interesting how Edna's new beauty was light skin, while if this story was based in modern times the main character would transform from a pale, shy, timid girl to a tan, outgoing, unrestrained, bombshell. Also, I definitely agree about how the selection of detail was very purposeful because, as you said, we are already very familiar with Edna's appearance so any description of her physically at this point would be to symbolize internal changes as well.
DeleteThe music choices in The Awakening contain details that can greatly impact your views or predictions of the plot. In chapter 9, the Farival twins are persuaded to play the piano and specifically play a duet from “Zampa”. This is an Opera by Ferdinand Herold based on Zampa, a sinful pirate that ultimately dies in the sea due to his wrongdoings. The symbolic waters have become too high for Zampa and this deeply parallels and foreshadows Edna and her tragedy.
ReplyDeleteAlso,the virgin colors of blue and white on the Farival twins (along with their dedication to the Virgin Mary) represent a predetermined destiny for these young girls who play music at a party for social pleasing purposes only.
I really loved this interpretation because I hadn't considered what the specific pieces of music were about or that they were foreshadowing what happens later. Music and the arts play a big role in Edna's life, but they only seem to truly affect her when they're being performed for the artist's sale and not for other people's. For example, Madame Reisz is able to bring Edna to passionate tears because the music comes from an emotional place in Reisz, while Adele Ratignolle's doesn't really make much of a difference because she plays to be a good housewife, not because she actually values the art that much. I understood that music was a large part of Edna's awakening, but it's even more interesting now that you pointed out that the specific pieces Chopin chose have significance.
DeleteI also agree that the music plays an important part. I talked about the song, "Solitude" played by Mademoiselle in my critic response, but I didn't notice the importance of "Zampa," as you pointed out. Now that I see more references to music, I can see that the importance is much stronger than I thought beforehand.
Delete*Mademoiselle Reisz
DeleteAs the doctor heads home after dinner with the Pontellier’s, Chopin utilizes through detail the doctor’s knowledge of Edna’s love for another man. “The night was chill and murky” sets the atmosphere as the doctor leaves the dinner unhappy about his unwanted knowledge of Edna’s other man. The doctor could see the “inner life” in people that was not apparent to others, so he could see the secret love for another man in which Edna was holding. It is most certainly apparent that he knows Edna loves a man other than Mr. Pontellier when he states “I hope to heaven it isn’t Alcee Arobin.” Who Edna’s lover is is a mystery to the doctor since we know her lover is Robert rather than Alcee Arobin. The detail about the doctor growing old and needing an “imperturbed spirit” conveys that the doctor does not want to be bothered with Edna’s matter and he would rather forget about it and not worry his aging self thinking about an affair. During the Victorian era, affairs were not a matter that was commonly discussed and the doctor clearly wishes to ignore his knowledge of Edna’s new man and go on with his life.
ReplyDeleteIn The Awakening, Katie Chopin uses excessive amounts of detail to add to the effect the novel has on the reader. Chopin uses great detail when writing about Edna Pontellier sketching her fathers "countenance". Instead of simply stating that Edna draws the facial expressions of her father, Chopin elaborates and goes deep into the attitude of each character around. Chopin never had to come out and plainly state the attitude or mood of each character, it was a given just by the amount of detail used in this paragraph. Chopin writes that Edna's father sat "rigid" and "unflinching". Even though it is so simple, it is incredible how much more information about the topic is given by saying that he was "unflinching" rather than just "still". Minor details and word choice such as this significantly add to the story. She compares Edna's father sitting so perfect in front of Edna's pen as he would have held still if he were in front of a cannon back in the day. This comparison between two strikingly different elements gives the reader a known relation to compare the fathers attitude to. Chopin goes on to describe the children's excitement and awe by stating that they "gaped with wondering eyes". The reader can imagine a young child with curiosity and how amazed their reactions to new discoveries are.
ReplyDeleteBeginning at Chapter 21, Edna Pontellier begins to analyze the apartment of Mademoiselle Reisz; to the point where she notes even the smallest details. The most prominent detail noted, and possibly the most important, was the "magnificent piano" that crowded the apartment. The fact that Mademoiselle Reisz left the piano regardless of its size demonstrates its necessity and importance. Not only is it an instrument for the beautiful, euphonious music, but an instrument for Mademoiselle Reisz to express her individuality as a person and woman. However, before looking at the interior, Edna noticed the "dingy" and "open" windows that let in light and air. A key detail, "dingy", is applied as a description of the quality of the windows as well as the buffet table. Chopin suggests "dingy" in order to highlight the need for societal balance. Although Mademoiselle Reisz if free from oppression and free to express her individuality as a woman, her quality of life is lacking and her belongings, other than the "magnificent piano", appear to be "dingy". This could be Chopin's way of justifying the need for companionship between Edna Pontellier and Robert.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about Madame Reisz's quality of life. It really is quite dingy. Also, she is not characterized as the most happy person alive either. She is rather isolated and grumpy. Her freedom may not be the golden gem that Edna is pursuing. It is interesting to think the piano crowds the rest of her home. It is the source of her expression, but it gets in the way of everything else. I am not sure if this is intentional or an unfortunate side effect. Either way, freedom makes other things less important and shabby.
DeleteI believe the "magnificent piano" serves multiple purposes. It's large compared to her small apartment, most likely because it's the biggest, most important aspect of her life. The piano also serves as a direct contrast to the rest of her apartment as far as appearances go because, as you said, the apartment is "dingy" but the piano is "magnificent." Maybe the reason why the piano sticks out is that, because it's so important to Madame Reisz, it's the only thing in her apartment she really cares about. She doesn't care to clean for her apartment, otherwise it wouldn't be so dingy. But she obviously does care to clean her piano because, if she didn't, it wouldn't be as magnificent. Madame Reisz doesn't care about appearances like the rest of the world. She cares more about substance. She cares about art, and as long as her piano is with her, she couldn't care less about the rest.
DeleteThe inclusion of specific details about Leonce Pontellier and his many, many expensive possessions in chapter 17 illustrates how shallow and materialistic he truly is. Leonce was "very fond" of walking throughout his house and looking at all his lovely things, gaining immense pleasure out of them simply because they were nice and they were his. Chopin uses this to hint at his feelings towards Edna: he views her as one of his objects he is so fond of, that he anticipates to show off to the world. Therefore, he is shocked when Edna realizes her own agency and asserts her autonomy, because he has been viewing her as simply a possession of his. However, as implied by Chopin in chapter 17, he doesn't necessarily mean to do that, Leonce is just a very materialistic person who values his possessions.
ReplyDeleteI would say that Leonce more that just cares about his possessions. I took it to mean that he is extremely materialistic from the bits about him buying things and placing them in his house just so he could take pleasure in owing them. Also, if the lawn is kept to neat, could that be a reflection back on his personality as well? If he needs his yard to be neat and order, he probably wants all of his other possessions to be as well. Including Edna. Implications of OCD aside, perhaps this is why he reacts not with just surprise to Edna's defiance of him, but with incredulity and a touch of rage. Because he can neither stand nor conceive one of his possessions being un-neat, or outside of his control.
DeleteOn page 20 of Kate Chopin's The Awakening, Chopin uses detail to convey the freedom she felt as a 12 year old and to compare it to the freedom she yearns for now. She compares the vastness of the meadow to the ocean. She goes on to say that the grass came up to her waist. This portrays how little she was compared to the meadow. She had so much room to roam and be free and do whatever she pleased. She said she "threw out her arms as if swimming," which parallels her learning to swim in her adulthood. Her learning to swim is a symbol of freedom and independence. She had the whole ocean to explore and the ability to do so on her own. This is similar to the experience she had as a child walking through the meadow. Her selection of detail, comparing the meadow to the ocean, and using them both as symbols for freedom and independence, is important to the theme of the passage.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your interpretation of the ocean as a symbol for Edna's freedom. I believe that when she first learned to swim, she first gained enough inner strength to recognize the "awakening" inside of her. After Robert leaves, Edna spends a lot of time in the water because "she felt that she could not give too much time to a diversion which afforded her the only real pleasurable moments she knew." Now that Edna is back in the city and unable to swim (not exercising her freedom), she makes drastic changes, such as moving out of her house, because she is unable to get a sense of freedom or pleasure from anywhere else.
DeleteI definitely think that Edna's swimming is a representation of her freedom! However, Madison, I never thought about the affect the change in setting would have on Edna. Now that she is back in the city, you're right that she isn't able to exercise her freedom in that way, but by moving out she is, as you said, able to get a "sense of freedom". Perhaps this is also why she turns to painting. As Mademoiselle Reisz said, painters bear certain characteristics that set them apart from society, and by painting Edna is able to paint pictures of her freedom.
DeleteI really like that you included this, Taylor! I was able to relate your interpretation of this scene to the idea learned in AP Psychology that childhood events stay with us forever and have the ability to potentially influence our adult decisions. The parallelism created between these two separate scenes for me helped to create the idea that Edna has always longed for a sense of individuality and will cherish any chance she receives it. Both the strength given to her in the meadow and the ocean seem to influence her future actions as well.
DeleteI never thought about Edna's description of the meadow before I read this, but it's amazing now that I realize the meaning behind it! It's sad in a way because Edna has strived for this freedom for so long, and as a little girl in the meadow, she had the freedom, but when she was swimming in the ocean there was still a barrier holding her back from the freedom. I agree with Abby about how in AP psych we learned about memories from childhood carrying on into adulthood and with Edna this is apparent.
DeleteIn Chapter 10 of "The Awakening", specifically page 33, Edna learns how to swim. This could be taken in a very literal meaning, but also could be an extended metaphor for Edna's realization of her being her own person. Chopin describes Edna's sudden realization of how to swim as "as if some power of significant import had given her to control the working of her body and her soul....She had wanted to swim far out, where no woman had gone before." We can interpret that "where no woman had gone before" was talking about women as independent beings and self-realization. The selection of the action "swimming", along with the diction of her going "where no woman had gone before", revealing Edna's realization of her being her own person both socially and physically, instead of only being a token for Leonce to show off. The "swimming" that Chopin refers to could mean Edna being trapped in the pressures of her husband and society, but she "swims" to the surface of her mind, achieving some form of clarity about herself.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the parts where Edna learns how to swim and actually swims were very significant. I really agree with your interpretation of Edna learning how to swim representing her beginning to become her own person and gain her independence. I also think the scene later in the story where Edna thinks she swam out to far, "...water behind her assumed the aspect of a barrier...", can be seen as Edna expressing her fear of becoming independent and the challenges that stand before her in her search for independence.
DeleteAlthough I've thought about this before, I have found it to be the strongest evidence for Edna expressing her fear and overcoming society's restraints and "barriers". Immediately when reading this excerpt, I began thinking of the song Edna named "Solitude", played by Mademoiselle Reisz. The image of the bird flying from the naked man (created by the song) is similar in that Edna acts as a symbol for the bird being freed from the oppression of man. Of course, Edna realizes that she cannot completely overcome the barrier that breaking away presents, but this is especially significant due to the fact that it brings her closer to her "awakening".
DeleteAt the beginning of Chapter 23 of The Awakening, Kate Chopin goes into extensive detail of Edna’s father, the Colonel, to portray him as a very serious, militaristic man who is very concerned in displays of oppressive strength, and feels that women’s positive attributes stem from men and their influence. Edna, to him, is not talented at art simply because simply because she works hard, but because “he had bequeathed to all his daughters the germs of masterful capability”. This really highlights the superiority he feels over his late wife, and women in general, because the idea that his daughters got any of their talents from her doesn’t even occur to him which shows that he thinks men, not women, possess any talents that their children inherit. The Colonel puts great stock in appearing strong and manly, and can be seen in how he “wore his coats padded [to] give a fictitious breadth and depth to his shoulders and chest” which displays much value he places in the traditional role of men looking and behaving strongly, even if that strength is oppressing. Later in the chapter, Leonce (Edna’s husband) speculates that the Colonel’s displays of this strength by constantly telling his wife what to do might have been what “coerced [her into her] own grave”. The fact that it is Leonce, an oppressor himself, who recognizes this shows just how smothering the colonel must have been towards his family. The great detail surrounding the Colonel adds more insight into what Edna’s childhood was like and emphasizes that it was one characterized mostly by rules and oppression which are what she’s come to realize are taking the life out of her by making her existence just one big muddle of unthinkingly listening to men. However, now that she’s an adult, she is awakening and realizing that she has never been happy following rules set by all these men who think they know what’s best for women, and it’s prompting her to break away from her life as a caged housewife and live for herself.
ReplyDeleteIt's very important that you pay as close attention as you can when reading because you can easily overlooks a small detail. I liked the first quote you brought up because I didn't catch that reference until now. It is yet another addition to the story that belittles Edna's talents and adds fuel to her fire of freedom.
DeleteThe Awakening: Detail
ReplyDeleteLuke Sain
The Colonel, Edna’s father, is down for a visit in New Orleans with the Pontellier’s for a short while. He and Edna went to the track for horse racing today and are in good spirits. Mr. Pontellier disapproves of the activity, but the doctor is also there at dinner. The doctor sees no sign of the condition Mr. Pontellier spoke about Edna a few days back. The conversation about horse racing develops into an argument with Edna on her father’s side, and the doctor gets to observe from the outside. Chopin inflates the details of the argument to illuminate Edna’s capability of being and individual thinker.
The word “attentively” sets the tone of the passage, preparing the reader for something important. There was a “subtle” change in Edna, but it transformed her. It was so small as to be called subtle, but so important as to transform who she was. Listlessness turned to into a palpitant woman. Palpitant is an interesting detail because it connects her actions to the heart. Her soul is rapidly beating through this argument against her husband. It is passionate and intimate at the same time. “Her speech was warm and energetic.” I believe warm is still connecting to her heart. How else does one have warm speech unless it comes from the heart? Edna reminds the doctor of a “beautiful, sleek animal waking up in the sun.” The focus on warmth and life and passion is becoming clear. Through arguing with her husband, she her own beauty shines to the world. Her soul is awake, because she wants it to be. Control over her life is in her hands, so now her passions can flow free, reaching others in the process. All of the detail in this selection focuses the reader’s attention to the alertness and awakening that comes from her passions and ability to express them. And it’s beautiful. (Chopin 75)