In class we've discussed the purpose of The Awakening overall. It is a feminist article that promotes women's rights and individuality, sadly in the beginning of this novel we notice that Edna lacks these things. Edna is tied down by specific gender roles such as taking care and being responsible for the children, cleaning, etc. Leonce seems as if he means no harm from the beginning, but due to the way society was set up Leonce is perceived as somewhat patriarchal and controlling. Robert in the novel seems to be a lot more friendly and caring. Robert also seems like a needy person in some way. Edna’s frustration with her husband and his title as “the good husband” comes from built up frustration over the years. As a societal view, Leonce is seen as a perfect example of a perfect husband because of how society operated back then. Edna would disagree because of her independent views and what she deals with at home. In this book the sea is representative of the potential of freedom and free will within society to break away from the norms. “The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation.” (Chopin 33). This supports my idea of the symbolism used in the sea. The night Edna goes out and cries on the porch, she looks out into the sea and to me it shows a sense of hope and potential for change and freedom.
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