“The Awakening”Symbolism, ironyIn Kate Chopin's short story “The Awakening”, the voice of history depicts a woman with sexual aspirations and moral feminine social rules seeking independence and self-discovery. The story is based on 19th century woman. At that time, women had virtually no freedom, were not recognized within society and had no choice but to submit to their husbands. The main character of the story, Edna, is described as a happy woman because she has everything; a wealthy, caring husband and two children. Throughout the story, the truth about Edna's misfortune is revealed. The voice of history uses symbolism, irony, and figurative language to express Edna Pontellier's feelings as she found her path to happiness and freedom. Throughout the text, Chopin encourages readers to think but using situational irony. “Irony – the expression of what one thinks using language that normally means the opposite, usually for humorous or emphatic effect.” (Merriam Webster). As they read, readers are led to think the opposite of what actually happened at the end of the story. At the beginning of the story, Léonce, Edna's husband, tells his wife to send away her friend Robert when he starts to bore her. Léonce didn't know that it was actually him who was bothering Edna. "'Well, send him off to mind his own business when he bothers you, Edna,' her husband ordered as he prepared to leave. (Chopin 1). Another example of irony is when Léonce returns from his night of fun and tries to wake Enda to be his audience. Léonce gets angry when she doesn't give him her attention and here the voice of the story refers to Edna as him "the only object of her existence." “He thought it was very difficult to break away from society. Personification is used to describe the sea. “The voice of the sea is seductive; it never stops murmuring, shouting, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a moment in the abysses of solitude; to lose oneself in the mazes of interior contemplation” (Chopin 50-51). The sea also plays a metaphorical role in the story as chaos and danger. This comes into play when Edna enters the sea and it takes her life. This story depicts the lives of women in the early 19th century. They were so locked into the norms and rules of society that many of them did not have the freedom to be who they wanted to be, or even live the life they wanted to live. The story “Awakening” is a clear example of this scenario. Edna Pontellier did not have the courage to face society and felt obliged to die to regain her freedom..