"It was with a wrench and a pang that Edna left her children...But by the time she had regained the city the song no longer echoed in her soul. She was again alone" (Chopin128).
This except highlights a key message that did not become clear until the near end of the novel. As Edna yearns to escape from her husband and her world surrounded by control, she never allows herself to fully escaper as she runs into the arms of more men. But, it becomes apparent that Edna will never be able to escape the control of men due to the fact that even if she breaks free from Leoncé, she will still be tied into a life dominated by her two sons and the care they require.
"I love you. Good-by-- because I love you" (Chopin 152).
When Robert leaves Edna while she is away, the note he writes for her to find upon her return emphasizes the role that Robert plays in this novel. He is constantly the one person that Edna believes will open her life to endless possibilities and happiness, and yet, even when they declare their love for one another, her still leaves. This shows that true happiness with men and life in general may be unconventional and never truly unattainable.
"She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again" (Chopin 157).
As Edna commits suicide, she recalls the split second of fear that overcame her but then left as quickly as it came. Fittingly, Edna chooses to leave this world in a poetic way. She swims out into the sea at Grand Isle, naked and perfectly at peace. The spot that Edna chose to commit suicide highlights her last chance at gaining control and freedom within her life as she choses to return to the one spot within the novel where she was free.
No comments:
Post a Comment