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Kate Chopin's The Awakening
also shows that she probably does not have strong feelings for her husband Leonce.
Edna finally rebels against her family and society by doing all the things that are not expected from her. For example, when her husband tells her that it “is folly to go swimming in such heat,” she goes and swims at any given hour of the day. And in addition to her swimming, Edna breaks the social code, which measures the length of her gloves and the color of her complexion. Lastly, Edna’s quest to rebel is lit by Mademoiselle Reiz who is a very brilliant and talented pianist. Reiz’s talent however, was somewhat lost on the island, where people could not appreciate her artistry as Edna does. Mademoiselle Reiz’s music touches Edna to the very core of her being. Something inside Edna is stirred and “awaken” she feels alive like never before in her life. It is Reiz who with her music starts to “awaken” Edna and allows her to see the beauty in life. Stirred by the magic of Reiz’s world Edna finds the strength to reach to reach for all that which is real for her, and allows her true being to shine. Edna is now able to break away from the restraining world of Leonce Adele and the rest of the society.
After reviewing all these changes which lead Edna to commit suicide, one cannot help but wonder if she committed it in order for her to feel free and liberated from the restraining world in which she lived. Whatever the case might be, I share the belief that Edna committed suicide because her true self was “awaken” and that very true self helped her to make what she believed was th best choice, because of all the things that she had to go through in order to achieve this difficult , but yet achievable goal of “freedom.”