"The Awakening" by Kate Chopin - Analysis and symbolism

"The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, provocatively illustrates the sexual and emotional awakening of the female protagonist, Edna Pontellier. Although it was publically scorned when it was first published in 1899 for its racy content, it is now considered one of the strongest feminist novels of American Literature. The novel successfully highlights the issues of feminism through Chopin's criticism of the patriarchal society that drowns Edna, despite her struggle to stay afloat.
Edna's distinct difference from typical Creole women are metaphorically shown through the birds introduced at the begi…