Self Expression in Awakening Novel
Self-expression is a strong theme in the novel ‘Awakening’, especially concerning the main protagonist Edna. The online dictionary definition of ‘self expression’ says it is the “expression of one’s own personality, ideas, or feelings through speech or different art forms like poetry, painting, or other creative activity. In Awakening, once Edna discovers ways of expressing herself, she begins to reveal her long-repressed emotions to the readers. In the novel, Edna first learns the language of the Creoles on Grand Isle. The Creole women may be chaste, but they speak freely and express their emotions openly. At first, Edna is shocked at their frankness, but she immediately finds the deed freeing. Her Creole friends teach her that is it okay to think and speak about one’s own feelings (45). She learns that she can express her emotions and sexuality openly without fear.
Edna also comes to learn self-expression through art. This comes in Chapter IX, when she is placed in the position of hearing Mademoiselle Reisz make music on the piano. Previously, she had not appreciated music on a deeper level. However, when she heard mademoiselle playing, “she saw no pictures of solitude, of hope, of longing, or of despair. But the very passions themselves were aroused within her soul, swaying it, lashing it, as the waves daily beat upon her splendid body,” (147). The music stirs some awakening within Edna and calls her to something. At the same time, mademoiselle also feels that she has been communicating with Edna through her music. She realizes that Edna is “agitated” and laments that Edna is “the only one” in her audience that is “worth playing for” (88).
After discovering the power of music in expressing emotion, Edna turns to painting enthusiastically like never before. From her interactions with Robert and Alcee, she learns to express the passion and love she has suppressed for a long time. Having leant the “language” for giving the expression on her desires, Edna is able to define them much better for herself. It can be seen that once Edna learns some form of self-expression from someone, she is very enthusiastic to apply it in all aspects of her life. For example, Robert helps her express her sexuality, and she wants to make it known while he is still concerned about the social pressure that comes with that.
As Edna’s self expression grows, she leaves everyone confused about her new personality. Many people who knew her become uncomfortable with her over-enthusiastic self-expression. This leads Robert to reject her eventually in Chapter 38. Robert speaks the language of convention, something that Edna can no longer follow. It is Robert who taught Edna the language of sexuality, but she seems to have gone overboard. The rejection leaves Edna convinced that solitude is her fate in life (121).
Edna’s discovery of self-expression brought her so much happiness and inner peace. However, she embraced her newfound freedom too enthusiastically and expressed herself too loudly and openly. In the end, she made everyone around her uncomfortable. The people around her understood what she was saying, but they could not answer back. They could not match the levels of lucidity that she had developed. In the end, her self-expression led to her isolation. Eventually, she felt that her solitude was inevitable, and she eventually committed suicide because she felt alone in her ideals.
Work Cited
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1993. Print.
