Friday, February 26, 2016
The Ocean
One of the biggest symbols in the novel is the
ocean. Edna consistently goes into the ocean throughout the story which makes
it obvious that it must be significant. While she walked down the ocean Chopin
stated, “The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering,
clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude,”
(155). Water is used to clean a person, so when Edna goes into the water she is
purifying herself. She knows she has committed bad deeds, but she feels like by
going into the water, she will be forgiven as if it cleanses her. It’s her “Awakening”
Without it being said we can assume she had killed herself in the ocean. It also
shows the ocean as a place of freedom which she wishes she had more of. When she
took her own life, she was giving herself to freedom which is all she ever
wanted. Finally she had what she wanted and escaped the restrictions she had to
live by because of the society.
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You're right. I agree. The ocean is a huge symbol. It seems like the ocean is where she feels free because she doesn't in reality. Like you said dying is the one thing she could completely control and it was somewhere she liked to be.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Ocean is a very big symbol. Like you said the ocean is a symbol of cleansing. And I do think she goes there to be cleansed of all her troubles.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. The ocean resembles many of things reflecting Edna's life, whether that be emptiness or, as you said, a symbol of cleansing.
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