Imagery and Symbolism in the First and Final Passages of Chopin’s The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening Essays

Imagery and Symbolism in the First and Final Passages of Chopins The AwakeningThe two passages at the starting and finis of The Awakening illustrate exemplaryally Ednas degeneration from strong-willed, vivacious, and super individual to tired and resigned. The passage begins with colour in symbolism the parrot is yellowness and green. As someone in class pointed out last week, yellow often symbolized cowardice or fear while green symbolizes youth, newness, or growth. As the parrot is specifically described as being caged, this color symbolism could illustrate Ednas fear either of being control or of all that breaking away from confinement would entail. Next, the parrot unbroken repeating over and over, indicating persistence though confined, it is determined. The phrase it repeats in french translates to Go away, for Gods sake With this phrase the parrot attempts to divorce from some force of opposition. Also, the fact that it speaks French as well as Spanish and also a lan guage which nobody understood suggests that, akin Ednas understanding of her identity as a woman, her individuality, and her sexuality, by versed several languages the parrot also understands more than does the average person (or hissing?), though it is itself misunderstood. The mockingbird serves as an antagonist to the parrot, or a symbolic representation of the forces that oppose Edna. The description of its fluty notes sounds pretty and feminine, in contrast with the disorderliness of the parrot similarly, Edna struggles with the pretty, feminine roles that are forced upon her within her society with irritating persistence, a constant threat to drown out the parrots, and Ednas, voice. The ending passage shows none of the conflict imagery as does the beginning, but kinda images of giving up. The old terror flamed up for an instant, then sank again refers on the surface to Ednas fear of swimming, but could on another direct indicate the fear hinted at in the first passage t hat pack her to grow and difference. Hence her drive has, like the terror, sunk, ceased to be. The image of the old drag contrasts with the lively image of the parrot while caged, there is little fight against it. The fact that the dog is old suggests dullness and sedentariness it probably isnt expiration anywhere. There is still confinement, but no struggle. Also the cavalry incumbent could represent an army. An army is something that cannot be conquered, as are the forces in Ednas life that cause her to do what she is about to do.