The Awakening
By John, Daniel, Stella,
Ethan, Yannick, and
Medhane
Motifs
One of the motifs in the
Awakening is the repeated use of
water as a symbol of free flowing
freedom. Throughout the text,there
are subtle references to water and
beaches, which then come back in
the final, which is perhaps the most
important scene of the text.
John’s analysis
 “ When she and Robert stepped into
Tonie’s boat, with the red lateen sail, misty
spirit forms were prowling in the shadows
and among the reeds, and upon the
WATER were phantom ship, speeding to
cover.” (42)
 These lines reference the motif of water as
a symbol of freedom in the text. Water
flows forever and if one were to go on a
boat with an infinite amount of food and
water, they could just travel the seas and
be free forever.
Edna
Edna relationship to other characters:
Edna has a loving relationship toward
Robert because when she woke up
she asked him if they were the only
people left behind of their race on
earth. This is Edna showing her love
for Robert because she implies that
she would love for them to be
completely alone.
More Edna
Quote: Robert says, you have
slept precisely one hundred years.
I was left here to guard your
slumbers; and for one hundred
years I have been out under the
shed reading a book. The only evil
I couldn't prevent was to keep a
broiled fowl from drying up."
Daniel’s quote
Analysis: It shows that the love Edna feels for
Robert is reciprocated because he
encourages her fantasy by adding to it. This
means he likes the idea of the two of them
being with each other instead of Edna being
married to someone else. It also suggests that
he would always be with her if they were
together because he said that he stayed the
entire one hundred years guarding her.
Point of View
A third person limited point of view is
taken in chapter 13.
-It reveals only Edna’s thoughts and
emotions, which is limited to the
fondness of Robert and an overall
feeling of more stability.
-As for Robert’s and Madame
Antoine’s emotions they are merely
hinted at through the interactions they
have with the protagonist.
Yannick’s quote
“The long line of little gray, weatherbeaten houses nestled peacefully
among the orange trees. It must
always have been God’s day on that
low, drowsy island, Edna thought.”
(P.38)-This is depicting Edna’s
positive outlook of the island, which
sparks her happiness throughout the
chapter. This quote also attributes
details to the setting of the chapter.
Symbols
 Sea: "misty spirit forms were prowling in the shadows and among the reeds, and upon the water
were phantom ships, speeding to recover" (pg 42) This quote shows the detrimental effects of
freedom. Even though in the beginning of the text the sea is seen as a symbol for freedom, the
sea symbolizes something else in chapter 13. From the quote, we detect an eerie feeling which
possibly foreshadows Edna's death, showing the negative consequences of freedom.
 Clothes: "Edna, left alone in the little side of the room, loosened her clothes, removing the
greater part of them." (pg 39)Clothes represent conformity. Back then, women had to cover
themselves up since it was forbidden to show skin. When Edna changes, she begins to wear less
clothes and shows more skin. This shows her growing independence from society.
 Madame Antoine's homeMadame Antoine's home represents a temporary freedom from
society.When Edna takes a nap in Madame Antoine's home, she takes loosens her clothes,
which shows that she is freeing herself further from society. Later, after Edna wakes up
from her nap in Madame Antoine's home in Grand Isle, we also see a more independent
side of Edna. She says, 'How many years have I slept?' (pg 40) From this quote, we can
see that her old self is washed away, that she is now someone new. Base on this quote, we
can see Edna's transformation from an oppressed woman to a more independent
individual.
Stella’s Quote
 "How many years have I slept?" she inquired. "The whole island seems changed.
A new race of beings must have sprung up, leaving only you and me as past
relics.”
 From this quote, we learn about Edna's transformation. We physically see the
change that Edna experiences. In the beginning of the story, Edna feels oppressed
by society. She hates that her husband makes her feel subordinate to him.
However, after Edna and Robert develop mutual feelings for each other, Edna
begins to change. The two lovers begin to spend time together and Edna begin to
become more independent from society. She goes with Robert to Grand Isle,
where she further develops a sense of independence. Her short trip to Grand Isle
further frees Edna from oppression. When Edna takes a nap in Madame
Antoine's home, she takes loosens her clothes, which shows that she is freeing
herself further from society. Later, after Edna wakes up from her nap in Madame
Antoine's home in Grand Isle, we also see a more independent side of Edna.
She says, 'How many years have I slept?' (pg 40) which implies that her old self is
washed away and that she is now someone new. From this quote, we can see
Edna's transformation from an oppressed woman to a more independent
individual.
Setting
 The setting in chapter 13 is very eerie. The
protagonist seems to feel uncomfortable and sad
throughout the chapter. As soon as the chapter
starts, the reader is told that Edna felt extremely
oppressed and drowsy while at the service. We are
then told that the church had a very stifling
atmosphere, making clear to us that Edna was not
comfortable at all. In this chapter, the setting and
environment is used to emphasize and make clear
the emotions that the characters are feeling. By
inserting various dark, grim aspects into the setting
Chopin is able to highlight the gloomy nature of the
Medhane…
They were outside in the shadow of the church,
Robert was full of solicitude”this quote makes
clear that there was uneasiness present
amongst some of the characters. The shadow
of the church serves as an indicator of dark
emotions. It is even clearer that the
environment is eerie and glum, when the
reader is told that Robert was full of solicitude.
His anxiety serves as proof that the
environment was not warm and friendly but
instead, sad and gloomy.