Symbolically Significant

Symbolically Significant In the classic novel, The Awakening, Kate Chopin tells the story of a woman who is conflicted between her mind and her heart. Edna Pontellier struggles to discover what lay ahead, and what was more important – her happiness or her family? Throughout her novel, Chopin uses different symbols to represent the inner conflict Edna experiences. Edna soon discovers the happiness that is contrasted with freedom, and is eager to begin her life as a new woman, but is hesitant because of the societal customs in the late 1800’s. As she is submerged into a different culture, with different expectations, she begins her awakening. In Joseph Church and Christa Havener’s The “Lady in Black” in Chopin’s The Awakening, they delve deeper into the complexity and meaning behind Chopin’s symbols throughout her novel. The unnamed lady in black represents a part of Edna as does the lovers. The lady is often seen poring over her religious text and counting her beads, embodying the limitations a life of commitment entails. The lady’s commitment and devotion to her prayers are similar to Edna’s expectation to be conclusively devoted to her duties as the mother of the household. The lovers, however, represent the part of Edna that yearns for a ceaseless love shared with Robert. The couple represents Edna’s love for Robert and craving for a life filled with happiness and a person to share it with – an escape from her caged life. In addition, Church and Havener note that upon Robert’s departure for Mexico – which “effectively [divides] Edna from an element of herself” – marks the moment where the “lady and lovers depart together,” vanishing from the novel entirely. This symbolizes Edna’s emotions and mental state because it eliminates that possibility of spending her life with Robert. Occasionally, Edna sees the lady in black who is often juxtaposed with a young couple in love throughout the novel. The unnamed lady in black appears reading her prayer book and