Frozen In Chopin's The Awakening

In 2013 Disney studios released Frozen an animated movie about two sisters, Elsa and Anna. Elsa was born with ice powers and is to be the new queen of Arendel. She has difficulty controlling her powers so she was taught to “Conceal, don’t feel, put on a show” otherwise everyone will know of her secret. During her Coronation ceremony Elsa wears a constricting dress, gloves and has her hair tied back into a bun in an attempt to hide who she is. But during the ceremony she loses control and runs to the mountains, where she can be herself and not have to fear anymore. She casts off the gloves, changes her dress and lets down her hair and for the first time she finally feels free. Similarly, Edna Pontellier feels constricted and confined by those around her, she is on a journey to understand who she really is, her awakening. In Chopin's novel, The Awakening Edna Pontellier is on a journey to awaken to her sexual desires and to let go of

the traditions and expectations. For Edna clothing and birds are symbolic of the expectations that society has for her.
First, Edna views clothing as a restraint on her. The women around her wear similar clothing styles that use a lot of fabric partially because they did not want to be exposed to the sun. “She wore a cool muslin that morning- white, with a waving vertical line of brown running through it; also, a white linen collar and the straw hat.” (14) Edna is described at the beginning of her story the same way as what was expected of women in those days. As time goes on though Edna pushes back more and more against cultural expectations. During dinner one night Edna decided that she had had enough pretending to be happy and normal, she decided to go up to her room early and change her clothes into something more comfortable. Madame Ratignolle followed her to inquire her reasoning for leaving so abruptly. Edna simply replies “No I can’t go to the trouble of dressing again; I don’t feel like it.” (44) Madame Ratignolle tried to convince her otherwise but eventually gives up to join the others. Edna continues to slowly let go of the clothing she embraced in the past until she is to the point where any clothing feels restrictive. In one last stitch effort to finally be free Edna “cast the unpleasant, pricking garments from her, and for the first time in her life she stood naked in the open air, at the mercy of the sun, the breeze that beat upon her, and the waves that invited her” (115) but even this did not appease her. Edna decided that ultimately the only way to be fully free is through death, where no one can control her anymore.
Furthermore, Birds represent Edna’s journey to her awakening.

The novel begins with the “green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door”. She is trapped in what society wants from her and what her husband Leonce expects of her. As Edna continues to stray farther and farther away from her constraints, others begin to notice a difference. Mademoiselle Reisz was one who took notice. Edna tells Arobin “She put her arms around Edna and felt her shoulder blades to see if her wings were strong, she said, The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings.” (83) Mademoiselle Reisz was asking Edna if she was ready to take on the consequences of going against tradition and expectations. Just before her death Edna sees “a bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water.” The bird finally gives up and with a broken wing is not strong enough to fly anymore so instead it falls into the water, just as Edna will do in the

end.
In Chopin’s novel, The Awakening Edna Pontellier slowly wakes up to her sexual desires and lets go of the traditions and expectations. For Edna clothing and birds are symbolic of those expectations and traditions that society has for her. They represent her sexual desires being awakened. Just as Elsa in Disney’s Frozen lets go of the expectations and traditions to embrace a new life of freedom, Edna leaves behind the expectations and traditions placed on her. Edna ultimately realizes that the only way to truly be free is to go beyond where anyone can control her and drown herself.