Victoria Gac Defying Society

1/28/10

In each of our lives, weve faced social standard and norms that we are expected to uphold whether it be in our family, or society in general. Sometimes, there are people who rebel against these rules, going against what they were raised to believe, accept, and consent to. Despite what it says about the individual, what does it say about the society when their own kind goes against their own beliefs? Is this society just, right or even moral? In her novel, The Awakening, Kate Chopin shows us through her use of symbolism and juxtaposing characters, how one woman goes against society to follow what she actually believes to be the true way of life. Utilizing symbolism, Kate Chopin successfully portrays how her protagonist, Edna Pontellier, transitions from an obedient wife to a rebelling individual. For example, Chopin symbolizes birds in the novel to represent the women of the nineteenth century and the heavy restrictions society placed on them, and the importance of living a conservative lifestyle. Immediately at the start of The Awakening, we are confronted with: a green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door (Chopin 11) that was shrieking and shouting. This is similar to Edna, and how she has a voice, but is trapped within the cage society has barred around her. Generally, throughout the novel we see how caged birds represent the wives. The women are basically pets, given comforts, able to speak their mind, but are under the control of the husband and society, not allowed to soar or fly on their own terms. When Mademoiselle Reisz tells Edna: The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings (116), she explains that Edna needed to be strong and courageous if she

was planning to defy society and go beyond all social norms to find self-justice. Chopin also shows us how: a bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water (159). This represents Ednas failure of achieving individuality, revealing to the readers how hard it is to achieve it and the consequences of trying. In The Awakening, we are revealed through contrasting characterization of the proper roles of women in the nineteenth century and how some attempted to defy these rules and standards. One example of sticking to the status quo would be Madame Ratignolle, a dedicated mother and wife, focusing on the needs and wants of her children and her husband. Adele is often portrayed as the chastising voice of society, always nagging Edna to: think of the children (152) and what would become of her suicide. Adele, characterized as: the embodiment of every womanly grace and charm (21) is one character that remains stationary throughout the whole novel. She represents all women in society as a whole, the concrete and rock that Edna, tries to push and pull against all on her own. More often than not Adele was the epitome of all women that idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels (21). Quite opposite from Adele is Edna, a very head-strong, self-believing individual considered not a mother-woman (21). She is also portrayed as childlike and selfish throughout the novel. Edna lets herself drown in self-pity, literally and figuratively. At one point Adele states: In some way you seem to me like a child, Edna (136) revealing how childish women who rebel are in the eyes of society. This also shows how different Adele and Edna were, and the difference of ideas they shared. Societal rules of women

were at a turning point in the nineteenth century, whether they were consenting to changing is a whole other matter. During times of controversy, we are faced with decisions of both political and moral value. Whichever we choose is up to us. In The Awakening, Adele chose security and comfort, while Edna craved freedom and value of her life. Despite security being the safer bet, we have to acknowledge the importance of individuality, standing up for your beliefs, and living with a fair lifestyle. We can not achieve this if we let society as a whole do all the work.