The Awakening???(?)

When Edna hears Mademoiselle Reisz play the piano, she experiences something unusual. As explained earlier in chapter nine, Edna has the ability to discern images from pieces of music, such as the solitary man on the sea, or a woman stroking a cat. However, when Edna listens to Mademoiselle Reisz play at the get-together, she gets shivers down her spine and feels something stirring within her, as she experiences something that is inexplicable to her. As the author puts it, “... the very passions themselves were aroused within her soul, swaying it, lashing it, as the waves daily beat upon her splendid body.” I believe these feelings Edna experiences are the reason for the title The Awakening.

Later on, in chapter ten, Edna wonders if she will ever feel the way she did when Mademoiselle Reisz played the piano ever again.She goes into further detail by stating she felt a thousand different emotions, and couldn’t comprehend half of them. I believe this to be foreshadowing a greater event later on in the story, based on the way the author has Edna reflect on the music.