Edna Pontellier

Throughout this novel we see many sides of Edna and her different feelings and desires. Also there are symbols that embody her and represent her emotions. Such as a parrot shown at this gathering where all the visitors were present and there was music dancing discussions etcetera. This parrot kept interrupting the normality and celebration of this night. The parrot was deemed annoying and a pestilence. "Old Monsieur Farival, grandfather of the twins, grew indignant over the interruption, and insisted upon having the bird removed and cosigned to regions of darkness."(Chopin 31) In a way Edna embodies this parrot because just like the bird she feels like a pestilence or a interruption to what is considered normal. She is not like those around her and if she were to voice her opinions and such she'd be more of an outcast then she already is. She does not pay attention to the entertainment and does not belong nor is she the norm of what women are supposed to be at that time. Later on that night she sits out on her porch at some 1 am in the morning as her husband comes home. He tries to convince her to come inside and of course the rebel she is she refuses she likes sitting out there. He then snaps at her faintly and says a few mean inconsiderate things and she snaps right back and shows a little authority. "Don't speak to me like that again; I shall not answer you."(Chopin 40). As a wife and general woman you were not supposed to speak to a man this way you were to obey your husband and do as you were told. Showing this type of defiance was highly frowned upon and considered taboo.