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The symbolism of water shifts between liberation and imprisonment in Chapters 1-15 of The Awakening as the ocean is a representation of freedom for Edna. In Chapter 10 when she first goes for a swim, the water represents her newfound independence. It is a parallel to Edna's growing strength and autonomy. But the water also symbolizes imprisonment. Before this successful swim, Edna is afraid of drowning. This can be seen as a fear of "drowning" in society, in her life. The water could be a symbol of freedom, or it could pull her under.

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Water in Chapters 1-15 of The Awakening is a symbol of freedom and confinement, mirroring Edna's growing self-consciousness. The ocean symbolizes freedom and self-discovery, particularly when she finally learns how to swim, becoming stronger and more self-assured. Water also represents confinement, since its vastness reminds her of the constraints of society and herself. The sea gives Edna freedom, but it also suffocates her, thus paralleling the constraints of societal expectations. Overall the water shows Edna what could be if she had freedom whilst showing her the hardships that could occur.

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In Chapters 1-15 of The Awakening, water represents both freedom and being stuck. At first, the ocean feels like a way out for Edna, especially when she learns to swim. It gives her a feeling of power and independence, showing her she can be free. But the water also has a dangerous side. It can overwhelm her, just like how life’s expectations are hard to escape. The water shows her the freedom she wants, but also how tough it will be to fully break away.

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In the first fifteen chapters of The Awakening, water is a symbol of Edna Pontellier's journey toward self-discovery. Water appears not so vaguely to her to be a source of freedom; yet, it always leads her back to the confinements of overruling societal norms that restrict her sense of independence. Through the sea, she experiences hapinness, pride in herself, and a sense of control over her own body. And the endlessness of the ocean symbolizes a great deal of opportunities for her to escape the stifling roles imposed upon her as wife and mother.

water is also a symbol of entrapment, representing Edna's emotional and societal limitations. She is underlining their constraints even though she feels that the ocean was liberating, she feels trapped by fear and uncertainty, by what others expect of her. On the one hand, her inability to swim alone is symbolic of the very real uncertainty within her desire to be free from the chains of marriage and motherhood. The endless ocean with its interpolated tides is another example of a dual promise of freedom and forces of constraint, a metaphor for her ultimate destiny.

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Early in the book, water is meant to represent freedom and self discovery. Edna explores her independence in the gulf of mexico. When she learns to swim, it shows her growth and her trying to break free from societal constraints. She feels empowered. When the book progresses though, water begins to become more like a prison. It represents isolation. When she swims far, she feels fear and it represents that freedom may be unattainable. She is still trapped in the cycle of patriarchy that she cannot fully escape.

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Between chapters 1 & 15 of The Awakening, we learn about the ocean and the major symbolism it plays in the book. The ocean's duality is apparent. On one side, the ocean can mean freedom with Edna being away from the societal entrapment and negative standards that she and many others have gone through. A place that represents calmness and control over her life without any interference from anyone else. It can be seen as a pivotal moment for Edna as she doesn't want to take on the role of going through life passively and under pressure.

On the other hand, the ocean can also represent entrapment and isolation as a certain level of wariness as she doesn't know what is out there. It can only provide so much in terms of freedom and can easily feel as if one is trapped just like societal norms. She sees this as an obstacle preventing her from enjoying the life she truly wants.

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Edna started the book not knowing how to swim, representing how Edna had little control or power over her own life. She didn't know how to be her own person and venture beyond the social confines that society had for women. However in chapter 10 she learns how to swim with the help of Robert and swims out into the ocean while everyone else is on the shore. For a moment when she is out there she says she feels powerful and like she has accomplished something. This represents the awakening she is having, how she likes freedom and being independent and unreliant on her husband and children. But when she looks back to shore she realizes how far shes come and her sense of pride turns into fear. She is unsure of how to make it back to land, skeptical she is strong enough. The water suddenly feels dangerous and like it will hold her forever with relates to the theme of oppression. Edna feels imprisoned by societies expectations and even once she has tasted freedom, she is unsure of how to truly be free without reverting back to what society has shaped women to be.

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Throughout chapters 1-15 there is constant symbolism being used, the majority of which uses water. At the beginning of the novel water is used to symbolize freedom and Edna's identity as she still has a great amount to discover about herself. The sea symbolizes freedom from the roles and expectations of her position as a mother and wife that she has been confined to up until this point in her life. As Edna begins to explore the sea as well as herself more in the later chapters we see her swim in chapter 10 which is a major turning point for the symbolism of water. While swimming Edna feels truly free from all of her responsibilities and pressures as a mother. However, she also realises just how dangerous the water can be as she is afraid of not being able to make it back to shore which helps to switch the symbolism of water from freedom to fear and also imprisonment. Enda struggles with wanting freedom and to escape the societal roles that she is trapped in which is similar to her experiences and views on water that are expressed in the chapters.

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In chapters 1 through 15 of The Awakening, Edna sees the ocean as her freedom and entrapment. At the very beginning of the story, Edna seems fond of the water. She strolls along the beach with Robert and enjoys the heat, even though her husband doesn't appreciate it like she does. At this point in the story, Edna can't swim. The water represents her wishes to escape from reality and the roles she plays in her life. The water represents Edna's self-discovery. However, in chapter 10, Edna finally learns to swim. Edna becomes brave and wants "to swim far out, where no women had swum before (pg. 37)." The empowerment she feels soon vanishes. Edna becomes scared that she won't have enough strength to swim back to shore or anything further. The water becomes an object of fear to Edna at that moment. It's an obstacle she feels "her unaided strength would never be able to overcome." The water is something that is trapping her in place. It symbolizes how stuck Edna feels in her current lifestyle. The water in the first 15 chapters symbolizes both Edna's longing for freedom and her current containment.

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In chapters 1-15 of The Awakening, Edna views the water as representing her freedom and confinement. When Edna learns how to swim on her own, she feels liberated and free. Edna discovers she can do things without other's help that would typically challenge her. The water seems to be an escape for Edna to hide from her societal roles. The water also represents the danger of going against these roles when she realizes there is no one near to help her. Being trapped in the water shows her feelings of isolation and imprisonment. Edna uses water to represent liberation and imprisonment throughout these chapters through her fluctuating feelings of wanting to escape her current roles in life.

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In chapters 1-9 Edna views the water as something unreachable. The ocean serves as symbolism for freedom and entrapment. Before she learns to swim the ocean symbolizes society holding her back with fears that she "won't be able to swim" and it's mysterious and new. For example in Chapter 6, the ocean is described as "seductive" yet "never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring." These words show how Edna is drawn to it but can't move past the expectations and fears. She sees others swimming easily and she is hesitant symbolizing how she still feels trapped by the expectations of being a wife and mother. But, when she finally swims in Chapter 10 it's described as a huge thing, even if she didn't go very far. She goes a good distance and then fear overtakes her and she goes back. After this experience, she learns how to talk back and kind of pull away from her husband. Her learning to swim was the beginning of her "awakening" because later in these chapters she starts to wonder if just the summer feels different or if it's her becoming a new person.

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Brenna Patterson-

Throughout Chapters 1-15, Chopin uses water as a shifting symbol—at times a force of liberation, and at others, a constant reminder of the imprisonment binding Edna. At the beginning of the novel, Edna cannot swim but views the vast ocean of the Gulf as an escape. This is when her desire for self-discovery and independence truly begins to emerge. In Chapter 10, Edna feels a deep pull toward the ocean and longs to swim “where no woman had swum before.” Unfortunately, that sense of empowerment fades as she looks back to the shore and realizes how far she has gone. She fears she may not have the strength to swim back. This moment foreshadows the reality that when she finally takes steps toward freedom and experiences her "awakening," all her strength will be expended in that moment, leaving her struggling to return to the imprisonment imposed upon her by the societal expectations of an ideal mother and wife.

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In chapters 1-15 there is a shift in the symbolism of water. The water originally is seen as freeing and it is a place for Edna to experience her life in a pleasurable way. Initially, the water is a symbol of self-discovery and liberation yet it turns into a symbol of societal constraint. Edna is never able to be completely free or experience true empowerment because of societal norms. Edna looks to the water as a way to escape the constraints of the world around her. As Edna swims, she starts to understand that she does have a sense of control and authority over her own life, so she starts to awaken in a way and look for more in her own life. The sea becomes empowering to Edna as she discovers how to swim and she realizes that she is her own person. However, the societal barriers that are in place stop her from being able to live the life she truly longs for.

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In chapters 1-15, the symbolism of water shifts between liberation and imprisonment for Edna. At the beginning of the novel, Edna desires to swim freely in the ocean, but she isn't able to swim. Being unable to swim symbolizes the confinement and imprisonment that she felt. Edna wishes for freedom and power over her own life but she is limited as to what she can do, and her freedom is restricted due to societal norms implemented. Even though there are societal expectations in place for women Enda still longs for freedom and self-discovery. Because of that she finally decides to take control and go into the ocean, not only that, but go further than any woman has ever gone. The ocean seems to represent opportunity and freedom, altogether an opportunity for freedom and self-discovery. After her initial swim, she feels terror which shows how the ocean could also symbolize imprisonment for Edna. She realizes that there are barriers that she will never be able to overcome, referring to societal barriers regarding women and women's roles. Edna feels trapped. Overall, at the beginning of the book she seems to admire the sea and even in chapter 10, Edna feels free when she's in the ocean and she longs for more, she longs for that feeling of being revived. Finally, as she's swimming further into the sea she realizes that she hasn't swam a great distance. This made Edna feel like the societal barriers in place were impossible to break and that she would always have to live a life she was not happy with if she didn't have independence or take control of her life.

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In the first 15 chapters of The Awakening, the symbolism of water shifts between liberation and imprisonment for Edna since she has a feeling of self confusion and confinement. In the beginning the water speaks to Edna and causes her to have confusion of a new awareness of her identity and what exactly her role is supposed to be. Later in the chapters when she is at the ocean with her husband and children she has a sense of physical and mental disconnection, this shows her sense of isolation and her want for freedom. In chapter 10 is the beginning of the idea of water begins to shift when she has a awakening while swimming. While she is swimming she feels a sense of freedom and a feeling of her burdens of her role taken off of her. The feeling of swimming in the ocean for Edna is the feeling she wants in her own life.

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In the first fifteen chapters of The Awakening, much like real water, Edna's relationship with the substance ebbs and flows. When Edna first establishes her relationship with water, she does not know how to swim, yet longs for the ocean. Edna is always wanting to go down to the beach, but her husband, Leonce, shoots her down. This represents how Edna and Leonce have opposing views; Edna yearns for the freedom of the ocean but Leonce likes the restriction of the dry land. At this point, the water serves as a symbol of imprisonment. Edna has a desire to swim and feel the liberation of the sea, but she can't be free, she can't swim. As the novel continues, Leonce goes back to New Orleans, and Edna suddenly spends a good deal more time at the beach. Now, the water serves as liberation. Edna is free from her husband and finds solace in the ocean. Further in the book, Edna lets go and learns to swim. When she learns to swim, she goes through change. The water is now a symbol of total liberation because she teaches herself to swim and finds her self-importance. Edna's going into the water and coming back out totally changed is symbolic of a baptism or a rebirth. Then in chapter 15, it is revealed that Robert is sailing off to Mexico. Now, the water is a symbol of imprisonment, because it separates her from the one person she feels truly understands her. Similar to the tide of the ocean, Edna's relationship with water flows between liberation and imprisonment.

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In Chapters 1-15, the symbolism of water changes to represent both freedom and imprisonment for Edna. At first, water symbolizes freedom and self-discovery. The sea represents Edna’s growing desires and her wish for independence. When she swims in the ocean for the first time, she feels a sense of liberation, as the water allows her to break free from the expectations of society and connect with her true self. This moment marks the beginning of her journey to explore her true desires beyond being just a wife and mother. However, as the story continues, water also starts to symbolize entrapment and danger. The sea becomes a reminder of the powerful forces that can overwhelm Edna. While she initially finds freedom in the water, it reflects her limitations and the societal pressures trying to control her. The water can be inviting but also threatening, showing Edna's internal struggle as she tries to balance her desires with the expectations placed on her.

Overall, the changing symbolism of water in the novel highlights Edna’s fight between wanting freedom and feeling trapped, illustrating the difficulties of her journey toward discovering herself.

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Edna's connection to the ocean reflects the mass of ever-changing emotions she feels throughout her awakening. For example, at the beginning of the novel, Edna feels the desire to swim in the ocean, but doesn't know how to. It is Robert who is slowly attempting to teach Edna how to swim, which reflects how Robert is the one who is slowly encouraging and pushing Edna to discover her newly-awakened emotions. The ocean symbolizes how Edna's connection to her awakening changes, as in the earlier chapters of the novel, she is too afraid to even attempt to swim in the ocean. However, past a certain point, and with Robert's encouragement, she is able to dive into a new realm of exploration.

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Throughout the first 15 chapters, Edna's relationship with water reflects the state of her mind. At the beginning of the novel, Edna cannot swim yet desires to explore the vast ocean. The narrator makes statements about Edna such as "Her face wandered away toward the Gulf, whose sonorous murmur reached her like a loving but imperative treaty" and "The voice of the sea is seductive . . . inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of contemplation" (pgs. 12-13). Edna is enthralled by the sea but doesn't know how to swim. Edna's inability to swim is a greater symbol of being imprisoned by the confines of society. Edna wants to learn how to think and live independently, however, she is tied down by the cultural restraints placed on women. Freedom is a tantalizing thought for Edna, yet she is scared to take the leap of faith. In Chapter 10, Edna finally decides that since no one has been able to successfully show her how to swim, she is going to take matters into her own hands. When Edna dives in on her own accord, the narrator states, "A feeling of exultation overtook her . . . she wanted to swim far out, where no woman had ever swum before" (pg. 27). Edna is invigorated by her new ability to swim and wants to defy all limits. Edna's ability to swim is a greater symbol of liberating herself from societal expectations. The sea becomes an escape for Edna to explore and discover what she has been forbidden from. Learning to swim involves overcoming fear, and in these chapters, Edna is discovering the power of taking a leap of faith. Edna begins to discover a deeper identity, and the water cleanses her of her old ways.