Soaring Freely In The Awakening

Soaring Freely Symbols are more than what they appear to be. Their true meaning exposes an idea or meaning. A symbol is anything that means more than its literal meaning. In the novel The Awakening, Kate Chopin uses many symbols throughout the story such as the ocean, Edna’s passion for art and swimming to reveal more than its literal meaning. The Awakening follows a woman named Edna Pontellier who is tired of following the traditional standard in her society and slowly break free from its oppressive norms. Edna, through her effort in breaking the norms, closely resemble the birds mentioned in the novel. Mademoiselle Reisz mentioned birds soaring above the norms with strong wings. The birds can represent Edna as she fights off the pressure in being consumed into the society’s traditions and standards which can reveal they want to break free and soar with their free wings.
Mademoiselle mentions birds as the soar with freedom, “ The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth” (Chopin 138). This statement can symbolize Edna and her desire to break free from the cage to soar freely. Edna wants to leave and stay away from the oppressive standards in her society like how the bird fly above the tradition and prejudice, but she is beaten down by people who tells her to do what the norm says like how the bird is seen to be bruised, exhausted, and had to fly back to the ground. This symbol reveals her strength and perseverance in what she