symbolaw Symbols and Symbolism - Birds as a Symbol in...

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 Lebruns home], ke[eps] repeating over†¦show more content†¦Unlike New Orleans, Grande Isle is less land locked, and Edna is free to escape into the ocean at any time. The vision of the Pontellier home also embodies the captivity of Edna. Their home from the outside looked like a prison, with iron bars before the door and lower windows; it also had a gate in the front (110). This bird cage image of Ednas home further illustrates the captivity of her life. The bars are the restrictions of society, and the locked gates represent the difficulties she face in attempting to overcome these obstacles of confinement and conformity. Though caged birds symbolize solidarity and bondage, wild birds represent freedom and escape. Mademoiselle Reisz understands Ednas eccentric ways and reminds her birds that soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings (138). This image of a bird in high flight represents the confidence and strength she must overcome in order to obtain her freedom from bondage. If Edna does not obtain and maintain energy to overcome conformity, then, as Reisz assures her, she will become bruised [and] exhausted, fluttering back to earth (138). Just before Edna realizes that she can not obtain this freedom in this era, she sees a bird with a broken wing ... beating in the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water (175). This vision foreshadows her suicide. She feels barriers in her life