Symbolism In The Awakening By Kate Chopin

The Victorian era is a period during the 1800s that upheld strict roles in society, particularly for females. Women's inferiority to men display vividly throughout the course of the period, and female liberties and rights were seldom. Kate Chopin, an American author, created the novella to depict the habitual lifestyle of Victorian women. Given the time of publication, one could dispute the condemnation of the novella as a result of its central concept: feminism. In recent years, however, a plethora of people eulogize Chopin for her eloquent depiction of women's lives. Chopin employs characterization, symbolism, and allegory to reveal maiden roles in the Victorian society and clarify the struggle for feminism.

Prior to the Victorian era, gender
The sea, exposed in numerous occasions in the novella, is symbolic of Edna's "awakening". Chopin utilizes practical uses of the sea to reveal Edna's veto of her lifestyle. As Edna returns from the beach "burnt beyond all recognition" (Chopin), she differentiates from members of high society who avoid sunburns. Swimming represents Edna's feelings of alienation among the Creoles. Swimming also "frees" Edna from societal views as she learns the craft. The sea is also symbolic of defeat. "She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again." (Chopin). Edna's drowning scene allows Chopin to depict the lengths that women would go to to obtain freedom and equality. The cigar, another reoccurring symbol, constitutes masculinity. Females smoking in Victorian society was prohibited. The bird is the last major symbol of the novella. Known for spreading it's wings to fly, the bird instruments Chopin's symbolization of entrapment and the quest for liberty. Birds also empower communication. Along with other symbols expressed throughout the novella, Chopin introduces women inequality and the drive to be free along with the hardships that present themselves with defiance of societal