Art plays an important role in awakening. Edna Pontelier aspires to social and artistic freedom. As Edna begins to assert her independence, she also begins to take up painting as a way to express herself. In the opening of the novel, Edna takes up drawing. After the exhilarating evening at Grand Isle where she learned to swim, Edna becomes an independent and assertive woman. This is reflected in her romantic inclinations towards Robert, her disregard for her husband's wishes, and her ambitious artistic desires. She now aspires to become an artist. Back home, Edna began painting portraits in her studio and devoted so much time to it that her husband criticized her for neglecting her household chores. As she becomes more independent, Edna also begins to adopt her own artistic style. Edna defies societal protocols by seeking feminine independence and striving to become an artist. “Edna's quest for more original and serious art is directly linked to the development of greater pride and self-confidence, as well as the emergence of her sensuality. The more she pays...