The Awakening quotes

looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage

Chapter 1 Leonce views Edna as his personal property

it was some utter nonsense, some adventure out there in the water

Chapter 1 Leonce dismisses Edna's pleasures in life

eyes were quick and bright; they were yellowish brown, about the colour of her hair

Chapter 2 Edna is a two dimensional character, restricted by marriage (she could be more 'quick and bright'

he was always intending to go to mexico, but some way never got there

Chapter 2 Robert's juvenile whims (what will prompt him to go?)

they chatted incessantly about the things around them; about their amusing adventure out in the water

Chapter 2 Edna and Robert communicating with each other (they talk more than Leonce and Edna)

who was the sole object of his existance

Chapter 3 Edna is Leonce's life

if it was not a mother's place to look after the children, whose on earth was it?

Chapter 3 expectation of Edna to be a maternal figure

an indescribable oppression

Chapter 3 Edna feels oppressed by her marriage

in short Mrs Pontellier was not a mother woman

Chapter 4 Edna is not the stereotypical wife of the 19th century

fair lady of our dreams

Chapter 4 whereas Adele is the epitome of what a woman should be

the creole man is never jealous

Chapter 5 creole men have faith in their wives to not cheat

sensuous madonna

Chapter 5 Adele is the epitome of womanhood

which indicated a certain advanced stage of intimacy

Chapter 5 Chopin hints at the deeper feelings between Robert and Edna have for each other

the sun was in the low west and the breeze was soft and warm

Chapter 5 new dawn symbolises a new liberty for Edna (is it Robert or her existential attitudes towards releasing herself from the constraints of motherhood)

mrs pontellier was beginning to realise her position in the universe as a human being and to recognise her relations as an individual to the world within and about her

Chapter 6 Edna is discovering her place in the world (not as a mother or a wife but a human being)

the voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamouring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude

Chapter 6 the sea is inviting Edna to liberate herself

that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions

Chapter 7 Edna is living to conform not to be satisfied (existentialism!!)

sad-eyed cavalry officer

Chapter 7 Edna's childish infatuation

deeply engaged by a young gentleman

Chapter 7 Edna's childish infatuation

the picture of the tragedian

Chapter 7 Edna's childish infatuation (when romantic commitment starts - leonce - attraction and infatuation go?)

she grew fond of her husband

Chapter 7 Edna feels no attraction to her husband

Robert scanned the distance for any such apparition

Chapter 8 Robert yearns for Edna

black tulle and black silk tights

Chapter 9 symbolises Edna's mourning for who she was prior to Leonce (commitment kills passion)

insisted upon having the bird removed and consigned to regions of darkness

Chapter 9 parrot can be a metaphor for Edna who longs to be free from her cage (society) but Monsieur Farival (society) wants to repress her

the tears blinded her

Chapter 9 listening to M. Reisz' music makes Edna emotional

she wanted to swim out where no woman had swum before

Chapter 10 Edna wants to break free from society's boundaries

or more pregnant with the first-felt throbbings of desire

Chapter 10 Edna is attracted to Robert

senses of something unattainable

Chapter 12 ambiguous line suggesting Edna's feelings for Robert

a feeling of oppression and drowsiness overcame Edna

Chapter 13 Edna is still feeling oppressed

the lovers (and) the lady in black

Chapter 13 the lady in black may represent societal commitment which the lovers want to escape but cannot (maybe like Edna who wants to escape commitment but cannot)

shadows of the church

Chapter 13 Robert and Edna are hiding (their relationship?)

her eyes were bright and wide awake and her face glowed

Chapter 13 away from her marriage and children Edna thrives

an illumination broke over his whole face when he saw her

Chapter 13 Robert has strong feelings for Edna

Edna could hear the whispering voices of dead men and the click of muffled gold

Chapter 13 when Edna is with Robert she is not in reality (true love feels like a fantasy)

i don't understand your motive for silence and mystery

Chapter 15 Edna is sad Robert didn't tell her about Mexico

i will thank you goodbye

Chapter 15 Robert is on the brink of emotional instability leaving Edna

her eyes were brimming with tears

Chapter 15 Edna is sad over Robert leaving

symptoms of infatuation

Chapter 15 Edna maybe in love with Robert

taken the brightness, the colour, the meaning out of everything

Chapter 16 Edna is depressed without Robert

like a faded garment which seems to be no longer worth wearing

Chapter 16 Edna feels life is no longer worth living

she would never sacrifice herself for her children or for anyone

Chapter 17 Edna would die for her children but she wouldn't sacrifice herself

her eyes flamed with some inward fire that lighted them

Chapter 17 Edna is still ignited by her love for Robert

an alien world which had suddenly become antagonistic

Chapter 18 Edna feels her world is alien now Robert has gone

the spell of her infatuation

Chapter 18 Robert controls Edna's mind

it was his being, his existence

Chapter 18 Edna is completely enthralled by Robert

she could hear the ripple of the water

Chapter 19 Edna is reminded of her time at Grand Isle

to be alive or dead

Chapter 19 Edna does not see the sanctity of life

edna was sobbing

Chapter 20 Edna is distraught with her life

soulful and poignant

Chapter 20 Edna yearns for Robert

be careful; the stairs and landings are dark don't stumble

Chapter 21 M. Reisz warns Edna about transgressing into living unconventionally

devilishly uncomfortable for me

Chapter 22 Leonce is concerned by how his reputation looks with Edna defying social norms

it would not have surprised him, convinced as he was that he had bequeathed to all his daughters

Chapter 23 Edna's dad feels responsible for her virtues

who paddled away with her lover one night in a pirogue and never came back

Chapter 23 explicit story about Edna's obsession with Robert

i hope to heaven it isn't Alcee Arobin

Chapter 23 Dr Mandelet hopes Edna is not having an affair with Arobin

unaware that he had coerced his wife into her own grave

Chapter 24 potential parallels between Edna and her mother dying at the hands of society

she grew melting and affectionate, remembering his many acts of consideration and his repeated expressions of an ardent attachment

Chapter 24 Leonce gives Edna material pleasure (her male affections are like the Holy Trinity; Robert gives her emotional love, Leonce gives her material love and Arobin gives her physical love. in the end the material love can be exchanged (her home for the 'pigeon home' and the physical love can be exchanged 'today it is arobin tomorrow it will be someone else') but not the emotional)

awaken a corresponding cheerfulness

Chapter 25 Arobin makes women feel happy

the racehorse was a friend and intimate association of her childhood

Chapter 25 metaphor for Edna taking risks

she wanted something to happen - something, anything

Chapter 25 Edna is bored by her life, she wants passion or excitement

a quick impulse that was somewhat spasmodic impelled her fingers to close in a sort of clutch upon his hand

Chapter 25 Edna is feeling desire towards Alcee

she was thinking of Robert Lebrun

Chapter 25 Edna is still enchanted by Robert

her husband seemed to her now like a person whom she had married without love as an excuse

Chapter 25 realities of romantic commitment

acted like a narcotic

Chapter 25 Arobin's touch feels like a drug awakening Edna's sensuousness

appealing to the animalism that stirred impatiently within her

Chapter 26 Edna's increasing arousal with Arobin (a relationship not conforming to social standard)

the house, the money, that provides for it are not mine

Chapter 26 Edna is suffocated by her alien world

oh! unkind! malicious!

Chapter 26 Edna is distraught by M. Reisz emphasising how Robert hasn't contacted her

because he opens and shuts his eyes

Chapter 26 Edna is truly in love with Robert for who he is

nothing, except feel glad and happy to be alive

Chapter 26 Edna's emotional dependence on Robert

we shall see the sun pretty soon

Chapter 27 metaphor for Robert's return

i am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex

Chapter 27 Edna knows she is unconventional

the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings

Chapter 27 metaphor of Edna being strong in order to escape society

it was a flaming torch that kindled desire

Chapter 27 Edna's desire with Arobin

she felt as if a mist had been lifted from her eyes

Chapter 27 life with Edna had been foggy and unclear but with Robert everything is bright

it was not love which had held this cup of life to her lips

Chapter 28 Edna is sad that Robert wasn't the one to awaken her sexuality

affected carelessness

Chapter 29 Edna treats being asked about death ('do you want to kill yourself') in a nonchalant manner

when shall i see you?

Chapter 29 gender reversal - Arobin is asking Edna when he will see her next

Arobin and Monsieur Ratignolle on either side of the hostess

Chapter 30 Edna sits between her two choices in love the conventional and the unconventional

he did not say good-night until she had become supple to his gentle, seductive entreaties

Chapter 31 Edna has sex with Arobin

there was a feeling of having descended in the social scale, with a corresponding sense of having risen in the spiritual

Chapter 32 the pigeon house fulfils Edna's wants

which had penetrated to the sleeping places of her soul and awakened them

Chapter 33 seeing Robert reminds Edna of his power over her

i've been seeing the waves, and the white beach of Grand Isle; the quiet, grassy street of the Cheniere; the old fort at Grande Terre. I've been working like a machine, and feeling like a lost soul

Chapter 33 Edna repeats Robert's sentiment to show they are the two matching lost souls

the morning was full of sunlight and hope

Chapter 35 light imagery of Robert

but how delicious it would be to have him there with her!

Chapter 35 Edna has an appetite for Robert (she needs him to survive)

nature's requirements

Chapter 35 Edna's raw sexual desire

there was no despondency when she fell asleep that night; nor was there hope when she awoke in the morning

Chapter 35 Edna is between hope and deflation

why have you kept away from me, Robert

Chapter 36 Edna instigates why Robert has avoided her

she leaned over and kissed him

Chapter 36 Edna instigates the relationship

voluptuous sting penetrated his whole being

Chapter 36 Robert is enchanted by Edna

because you were not free; you were Leonce Pontellier's wife

Chapter 36 Robert refers to Edna has caged by marriage

i was thinking of you all the time, and longing for you

chapter 36 robert seems to be reciprocating Edna's feelings

i forgot everything but a wild dream of your some way becoming my wife

Chapter 36 Robert wants to be with Edna but in a conventional way

i am no longer one of Mr Pontellier's possessions to dispose of or not

Chapter 36 Edna rejects the conventional form of a relationship as a marriage (she feels like an object)

grew a little white

Chapter 36 Robert is scared by Edna's defiance against societal conventions

o think of the children!

Chapter 37 Adele warns Edna of sacrificing her conventional life for rebellion (she must remember her duties as a woman)

don't blame me for anything

Chapter 38 Edna does not want to be held responsible for her actions to preserve herself

i love you. Goodbye - because i love you

Chapter 38 Robert leaves Edna

but she would never sacrifice herself for her children

Chapter 39 Edna's existentialism as a mother

there was no human being whom she wanted near her except Robert

Chapter 39 Edna is depressed over Robert's leaving

the voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamouring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in the abysses of solitude

Chapter 39 repetition of the sea calling Edna to her death

Goodbye- because I love you (again)

Chapter 39 repetition of Robert's fatal line killing Edna