The Awakening :: essays research papers

In The Awakening Kate Chopin uses several symbols and motifs to reveal greater themes throughout the book. The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, goes through a serial publication of awakenings in which she discovers her independence and longing for a life which is less conformed. Yet Edna ultimately finds that independence and solitude come hand in hand, and that the expectations of women in the 1800s conflict with her desire to be an individual. Several events and characters influence Ednas awakening such as Robert Lebrun, Adele Ratignolle and even her several visits to Grand Isle. Yet there is unmatchable character who seems to be the most influential in Ednas development and that is mademoiselle Reisz. Mademoiselle Reisz is an unconventional and somewhat unpopular older woman unless also an excellent pianist. She is unmarried, childless, and homely, devoting all her time to her music. Even her living style reveals her character an apartment above everyone else, with a view, but oft en disagreeable and cold. Mademoiselle Reisz serves as a muse for Edna representing independence and freedom, and she is thus also a foil for Adele who represents everything an acceptable woman would have been in the nineteenth century. Even though neither Edna nor Mademoiselle Reisz can rightfully claim to have been very fond of each other, Edna seeks her companionship as she begins to pursue her independence and is attracted to Mademoiselle because of her pall manner. Mademoiselle Reisz is the only character who knows of Ednas feelings for Robert and therefore serves as an important link between the two characters. Mademoiselle Reisz also realizes that Edna is the only guest who seems really touched by her music, made obvious in a passage in which Edna starting line hears her play Perhaps it was the first time she was ready, perhaps the first time her being was tempered to take an impress of the abiding truth... she saw no pictures of solitude, of hope, of longing, or of despai r (chap.9 pg. 33). In this light Mademoiselle Reisz serves as a true confidant for Edna and these details bring these two contrasting personalities together. As Edna becomes increasingly aware of her sexuality and need to be independent she realizes that Mademoiselle Reisz is the abstract of artistry and female independence, one who lives in eccentric isolation. Mademoiselle Reisz tells Edna that she must be brave is she wishes to be an artist, that artists must have a courageous and recalcitrant soul, Courageous, ma foi The brave soul.