THEMES
REBIRTH
Edna’s awakening can be described as a rebirth.
She is often referred to by Chopin in a childlike manner. We observe
that before she learned how to swim correctly she would splash around in the water like a baby.
One of the turning points she goes through is the day she learns how to swim properly with confidence. She entered the sea as a baby, and left it as a developing person.
It is her own children’s development that is a main factor in her decision
to commit suicide. She realizes that her continued opposition to the conventions of the day would seriously harm the reputations of her two sons.
We note that the suicide is premeditated. Thinking of her children at the last she intends her death to look like an accident, having purposely arranged a lunch date with Victor and partner.
We
observe that the plight of many women in this era was that of a
child, having very few rights of their own, and being treated by
the man of the house in a similar regard to his own children.
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