symbolaw Symbols and Symbolism - Birds as a Symbol in The Awakening

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Birds as the Symbol of Bondage and Freedom in The Awakening

Birds that are enclosed in cages indicate solitude and bondage; those that roam in the open air above the seas represent freedom and happiness. The captivity or freedom of these animals is the symbolism that Chopin uses to illustrate the captivity Edna experiences from society and the freedom she desires. Through this vivid bird imagery in her novel The Awakening, Chopin elucidates the struggle and freedom Edna encounters.

From the beginning of the novel, the author supplies bird imagery to represent captivity and solitude. The "green and yellow parrot, which h[angs] in a cage outside the door [of Madame Lebrun's home], ke[eps] repeating over and over: 'Allez vous-en,' [come in]" (43). The pleas of the parrot parallel with those of Edna, a desire for communication. She longs for a companion to whom she can pour her heart and soul into, without being reminded of the restrictions and cares of Victorian society; a relationship that she did not have with her husband, but with Robert. Though E...

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