The Awaking Short essay

Illuminating incidents functions as a “casement.” They open a window to the meaning of the work. An “illuminating" episode can be found in The Awakening by Kate Chopin, this episode reveals that Edna Potelleir wants to be free and independent. Being one with nature can do just that.
Edna and the sea had a relationship throughout the novel. In the beginning, Edna did not know how to swim and stayed away from the sea, not until she met Robert. Edna Felt almost like a kid again with Robert, she did not need to worry about her husband or her life at the time. When the summer was almost over, Edna went to the beach, and actually wanted to go in the water. There was something about the sea, which made Edna want to go in. It drew her in, seductively, and let Edna feel its sweet embrace. Throughout the book, Edna was seeking that comfort again, and went away from her original lifestyle. When Edna arrived home from the vacation home, she began to act as if she was an independent woman. Edna goes out of the house as she pleases and picks up painting again. Everything brightens up in the world when she returned. As she went further away from what society wants form a women (to be a mother-women), the sea becomes more appealing. This free body of nature does whatever it wants. Edna wants that for herself. It all started with the time Edna decided to go out to sea that one summer, even though she could not swim. This desire escalates through the year after. When she comes back to the summer vacation home, the sea was so seductive that it engulfs Edna, killing her before dinner.
The one illuminating episode when Edna was in the sea for the first time without anyone, functioned as a “casement” because it showed that someone pressured by society will connect with nature, and long for themselves to be that independent. Edna kept trying to have that warm embrace of independence until she was done with it.