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The Awakening final

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The Awakening final
The Awakening final

After reading The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Susan Rosowski had input on Edna's suicide in the end of the novel. She had previously said, "Edna's suicide represents her final attempt to escape-to escape her children, her lovers, and most important, time and change. For only by complete isolation of self can Edna be truthful to her inner life." This, in simpler terms, is stating that after Edna had experienced her "awakening" she still felt lost and could not get away from those that she needed or a wanted a break from. The only way she could be her true self and escape those people who she did not care for, was if she had killed herself. This quote is entirely valid because one realizes that Edna was not content with the people or the way she had been living her life. She tried very hard to leave it all behind and start a new life, but it was impossible in that time period and therefore felt it was necessary to commit suicide. The use of literary elements, such as theme and conflict, helps to further demonstrate the idea of Edna attempting to seek independence and find her inner self throughout this novel. The theme, which is the main idea which the author weaves throughout a work and wants the reader to remember, is to first find yourself before involved with others. In almost all stories the theme is very important and teaches the reader a lesson. In this novel, The Awakening, the theme plays a crucial part to the overall story. Because Edna struggles so much and eventually leaves her family to take some time for herself, it reinforces the concept of the necessity of realizing the importance of knowing who you are and your values. It makes Ednas suicide in the end of the story much more important and effective. Without this particular theme, the main point of the story, which is to develop feminism and bring it to the readers attention. The second literary element of conflict, or the opposing sides working against eachother, also

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