Table of Contents “The Awakening” and its hidden symbolismConclusionWorks Cited In The Awakening of Kate Chopin, specific settings and details further explain Edna's daily struggle in the Creole society. The symbols are used as supports to give an understanding of Edna's journey of awakening beyond the surface. The textual comparison and use of birds, Edna's home life, and Edna's infatuation with the ocean provide deeper meaning than the text could offer alone. Each unique symbol is used to represent Edna's current progress on her journey toward independence and happiness. The symbolism in Chopin's novel expands on the role of women in society and offers an intentional comparison to leave the reader with an imprint on the oppression of women. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay “The Awakening” and Its Hidden Symbolism The ocean was Chopin’s means of bringing freedom to Edna. On vacation in Grand Isle, Edna decides for the first time to swim far beyond what she usually does: “A feeling of exultation came over her…she became bold and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far, where no woman had swum before.” This scene is important to Edna's character because her new ability to swim gave Edna her first real sense of freedom, from there she must contemplate how empty she feels and the constriction she faces . Edna's awareness of her independence helps her in subsequent encounters throughout the work and is the driving factor in what determined Edna's new lifestyle. Edna's wish to "swim away" is her desire to escape society's expectations. Edna feels that the ocean has allowed her to express her emotions in ways she couldn't before and escape the limitations and ideals that were imposed on her. Edna soon embarks on the idea that no matter what she does to free herself, she will never be free of the chains imposed on her by the society she was born into and the people she is connected to. The role of the sea in Edna's development was to lead Edna to her physical freedom, when she drowned. Edna had escaped her inner misery, leaving it beyond her body to be free as well. Chopin's comparison to the sea shows us how overwhelming societal norms can be for women trying to realize their potential. Many images of birds throughout the novel symbolize the confinement of women. In the society in which Edna exists, women are confined by their gender roles. The caged parrot is representative of Edna's experiences in that the bird has no way of communicating and no way of being understood by those around her. An example of this comparison is Mr. Pontellier's inability to understand Edna and also symbolizes how Edna is isolated. Another way to interpret the caged birds in Awakening is how the caged birds are used as decoration. This is an interpretation of how women were seen as ornamental objects without any substance, standards or needs during the Victorian era. Just as Edna is not very appreciated by her husband, and is only there to fulfill the duties of a wife and mother in Creole society. “The bird that would soar above the level of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings,” suggests the difficulty women would face in breaking down society's ideals and being..