Friday, February 12, 2016
Seductive Sea?
While reading The Awakening I’ve felt a poignant relationship between the sea and Edna Pontellier. We all know that Edna is the “elephant in the room”, she is out of place among the Creole people and numerous times throughout the novel this is stated. When Edna returns from the beach, “burnt beyond all recognition” (Chapter 1), we catch a glimpse of how she contrast from the members of high society who work hard to protect themselves from the effects of the sun. Edna wants to be away or apart, or more importantly an individual. In the subsequent chapters, this poignant wish is in reflect in the sea, “The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander to abysses of solitude… to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation” (Chapter 6). The sea shows itself as the awakening and desire in Edna. The voice growing inside Edna is manifesting after spending so much time by the sea, “The voice of the sea speaks to the soul” (Chapter 6). The sea and the time spent by it during this summer seems to play a big role in Edna’s choices this summer and individuality.
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I agree with this. I believe that, in a way, Edna's love for the sea does nurture her desire to stand out. She had always tried to fit in with the rest of the women but she was unsuccessful.
ReplyDeleteYes it's like the sea represents her awakening. She's growing and changing just like the ocean does. She's finding herself and learning more about her feelings.
ReplyDeleteOn top of what you said, she had spent a while trying to learn to swim and when she finally gets the hang of it, she spends hours in the sea, proud of her new ability. Furthermore, the sea can be interpreted numerous ways, some use it to display beauty, danger, purity, mystery, all of which through some aspect represent Edna. There might be more underneath the surface that we have yet to see.
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