LITERATURE ANALYSIS #3

Analysis

1. The Book I chose to read is called 'The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. This book is mainly about a women named Edna Pontellier. She is married to a man named Leonce. The story opens up with the family staying at a holiday resort for the upperclass with their two sons. Leonce is working much and has his mind on his job more than the attention he needs to give to his wife. Edna through out the story, with many influences of friends and a doctor, grows internally resulting in finding happiness in herself apart from her husband. And she learns to cope. Along the way finding a man named Robert who listens to her. She does fall somewhat for him but in the end realizes he cant fulfill the emotional, sexual, and intellectual toll.

2. I believe the theme of this story is the discipline of being alone and learning how to cope with it as Edna had to learn to. Her husband wasnt exactly a "family" man let alone abusive in words. She had to find herself again. 

3. The tone of this story is rather sad in the beggining because your learning where the roots of Ednas sadness comes from and how much she yearns for the slightest touch and affection from her husband. When she decides to leave the island for her own good and confides in Mademoiselle Reisz, theres an overwhelming sense of hope. Later on in the story Edna meets a man named Robert who in a way gives her the attention shes been wanting. And you see that Edna starts painting again like she did when she was a child. This all represents the loss in hope and how it can be recreated but to do that you have to be courageous and brave. 

 4. Literary Elements: 

• Allusion: The way Robert makes Edna feel free. She begins painting again like she did as a child.
• Allusion: Roberts sense of making Edna feel like a women again gives her the courage to learn how to swim like she never did rowing up. And while in the water she realizes her independence as a women. 
• Irony: Realizing how serious Edna and Robert himself have become. He leaves Grand Isle to avoid consummating his love for her. He is married. 
• Irony: Edna swimming, the water representing life and her husband, herself learning to swim represents her independence. 
• Imagery: "Robert and Ednas relationship is growing, and Roberts affections and attention toward Edna are inspiring her."
• Symbolism: The parrot in the cage at the beginning of the book represent Ednas unspoken feelings toward her husband. 
• Simile:  "the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings."
• Personification: Before stepping foot into the water to learn how to swim, Edna sees a bird with a broken wing struggling to survive. This bird represents Edna failure to find freedom in her marriage and herself. 
• Symbolism: The cigars are a symbol of masculinity and traditional manhood which represents Leonce, Ednas Husband. 
• Symbolism: The sea around the secluded island represents an empowerment Edna yearns for. 

Characterization

1. Robert would be an example of direct characterization. Before he comes into the story, you see that edna somewhat leads on to him to try and better herself. An example of indirect characterization would be Mademoiselle Reisz, she is friends with Edna and teachers her about independence of a women. She is brought into the story through speech and before they meet Edna kind of watched and admired her being able to be alone with no husband or children. 

2. I think the authors focus changes a lot when it comes to character. Heres Edna who is depressed and unhappy with her marriage and husband. Then you have these people around her like her "love" Robert, close aquaintence Mademoiselle who helps her become independent, and her therapist who makes her believe she just needs to stick it out. Every character around Edna influences her future decisions. 

3. I think the protagonist is dynamic simply because she goes from to depressed to happy to realizing she cant really change her marriage or herself. But also finds herself through all the hurt.   

4. I felt like i knew the character personally because she related to my family on many levels. The women in my family have been in situations like here. Maybe not exactly but similar and watching Edna grow in herself reminded me of my elder aunts who have come along way when it comes to relationships with men. The only difference between women and Edna is that edna gave up to an extent.