Edna's Character Analysis

Edna has a change in attitude, behavior, and her overall character throughout the book, as she becomes aware of the unvoiced thoughts that constitute her true self. Edna always looked forward to the morning time. She always waited for her days to get much better. In the book Edna is symbolized by the green and yellow parrot of the opening scene, the parrot that insists that everyone "go away, for God's sake." similar to the parrot, Edna begins pushing away her husband and former friends to have some time alone to do self reflection on herself and be happy for once without anyone there to interrupt her. “She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before.” This quote means that
Also, unlike the other woman whom she is close to, she is not a mother-woman, one who is willing to sacrifice her very self to her husband, children, and household."I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself. I can't make it more clear; it's only something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me." There is a certain part of Edna’s identity which Edna argues belongs only to herself, and that she would never give it up for anyone, not even her children. Edna has a strong spirit enough to begin a war but too weak to maintain it, although some readers have looked at her suicide as a escape from those personal and social forces. "I feel like painting," answered Edna. "Perhaps I always feel like it." Edna uses painting to take up her time and to avoid being sad. Through this Edna shows independence by just doing what she
“She doesn’t want to know me!” She said suddenly. “Why don’t you say so? You needn’t be afraid. I’m not afraid!’ And she gave a little laugh. Winterbourne fancied there was a tremor in her voice, he was touched, shocked, mortified by it” (James 66). This conversation gives us an idea of Daisy’s character. She puts up a front of being a confident woman and not caring about what society thinks of her, but in the end it shows that she was just putting up a front and wanted attention just like Edna did. This compares to Edna Pontellier because she wants to be independent and free but at the same time people treats her as a fragile