"In short, Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her. This may seem like a ponderous weight of wisdom to descend upon the soul of a young woman of twenty-eight—perhaps more wisdom than the Holy Ghost is usually pleased to vouchsafe to any woman.
But the beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing. How few of us ever emerge from such beginning! How many souls perish in its tumult!
The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation.
The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace."
Chapter 6 pg. 17-18
This passage is important to the primary theme of the novel, given it is the start of Edna's "awakening." Through this passage many potential themes become evident. These themes include independence, mental maturation, and self-realization. It is the start of Edna's discontent with her current life and desire for self-actualization. All her life Edna has felt like the property of her husband. Her husband has treated her like a young child, scolding her for being out in the sun for too long yet expecting her to care for the children. At the beginning of the novel her husband's disapproval of her is clear, yet Edna doesn't have the courage to speak against him and reinforces the positive rumors floating around town regarding how great of a husband he is. This lack of confidence changes after she meets and hangs out with Robert. The selected passage immediately follows when Edna and Robert went to the beach. After going to the beach and spending time with Robert, Edna realizes she doesn't have to put up with her current life and can look to self-actualize and become independent. This type of thinking was very uncommon for women at the time this story was written, which is why it is said "How few of us ever emerge from such beginning." Edna's thinking is pioneering for women at the time, which is why this passage represents the start of her true "awakening" and sets up the premise for the rest of the novel.
I selected this passage because of Chopin's beautiful use of language and its importance to the plot. I love how Chopin compares all of life's temptations to the sea. It is very interesting how Chopin personifies the sea into something urging one to explore their inner self only to result in confusion. Yet, at the same time Chopin makes the sea out to be an almost motherly figure the way she uses words such as "sensuous," "soft," and "embrace." I find this part of the passive very complex and beautiful. The passage also marks the start of Edna's "awakening" making it extremely important to the story's plot. I believe this passage starts the realization that Edna doesn't have to be content with her current life and has the power to search for herself as an individual and improve her life. I believe this "actualization" will be the primary thematic idea in the story. Overall, the beautiful use of language and importance to the theme of the story make this passage the most important in chapters 1-7.
But the beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing. How few of us ever emerge from such beginning! How many souls perish in its tumult!
The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation.
The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace."
Chapter 6 pg. 17-18
This passage is important to the primary theme of the novel, given it is the start of Edna's "awakening." Through this passage many potential themes become evident. These themes include independence, mental maturation, and self-realization. It is the start of Edna's discontent with her current life and desire for self-actualization. All her life Edna has felt like the property of her husband. Her husband has treated her like a young child, scolding her for being out in the sun for too long yet expecting her to care for the children. At the beginning of the novel her husband's disapproval of her is clear, yet Edna doesn't have the courage to speak against him and reinforces the positive rumors floating around town regarding how great of a husband he is. This lack of confidence changes after she meets and hangs out with Robert. The selected passage immediately follows when Edna and Robert went to the beach. After going to the beach and spending time with Robert, Edna realizes she doesn't have to put up with her current life and can look to self-actualize and become independent. This type of thinking was very uncommon for women at the time this story was written, which is why it is said "How few of us ever emerge from such beginning." Edna's thinking is pioneering for women at the time, which is why this passage represents the start of her true "awakening" and sets up the premise for the rest of the novel.
I selected this passage because of Chopin's beautiful use of language and its importance to the plot. I love how Chopin compares all of life's temptations to the sea. It is very interesting how Chopin personifies the sea into something urging one to explore their inner self only to result in confusion. Yet, at the same time Chopin makes the sea out to be an almost motherly figure the way she uses words such as "sensuous," "soft," and "embrace." I find this part of the passive very complex and beautiful. The passage also marks the start of Edna's "awakening" making it extremely important to the story's plot. I believe this passage starts the realization that Edna doesn't have to be content with her current life and has the power to search for herself as an individual and improve her life. I believe this "actualization" will be the primary thematic idea in the story. Overall, the beautiful use of language and importance to the theme of the story make this passage the most important in chapters 1-7.