Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Live Blogging: Chapters 9-12 of The Awakening

I've been enjoying your discussions so far. Keep up the strong work, and remember that you're aiming to make at least five insightful comments.

91 comments:

Alex_Manning said...

Affirmative

Rachel L said...

Does Edna look like she's going to continually go against the will of her husband, or was her one outburst the only one we'll see in the story?

Hannah S said...

The beginning of chapter 11 it is told from Mr. P's perspective. Why does Chopin start it in Mr. P's view? Why is this significant for feministic causes?

shaunam said...

Relating to confinement, since she almost drowned, is this an example of caging? But since it lead to "loving" Robert, is there always dichotomy?

Anonymous said...

I was wondering did the journey into the sea further her journey to a general perception of feminism or individuality?

tanal said...

I think that Edna is a very independent person and that she will continually go against the will of her husband.

erinl said...

rachel-
I think that at some point in time during this book there is going to be an outburst because there is only so much tension that a person can take before they explode.

Anonymous said...

I think that she will continue to fight against her husband this was just the beginning. She has just begun to realize how freedom feels and she is going to want more.

brynnh said...

There is no way that this is the sinlge outburst that Edna will have. She is a born independent and will not let her husband decide her actions for her.

shaunam said...

Rachel, I think that she will continue to go against her husband because since she feels repressed, it is her way of rebelling. However, I think she might be more discreet instead of having outbursts.

jessie w said...

I think it furthered her individuality which is found in her feminimity. I don't think they're necessarily separated for her.

Rachel L said...

So, will these feminist relaliations from Edna become larger in scale, or will they just be numerous small actions?

saram said...

I agree with Tana. It seems like she will always go against her husband. It just depends on what extent that she takes it to I guess.

Unknown said...

Why do you think that Edna was so strongly affected by the music played by Mrs. Reisz? What do you think that Mrs. Reisz symbolizes? I thought that maybe she symbolized nonconformity and rebellion because she doesn't seem to fit in with the quaint little beach society and doesn't seem to care what anyone else thinks.

krump said...

Shauna--When they all were standing up front, I related to sea to confinement because they are so different. The sea is open and free, the opposite of confinement. Maybe the drowning signified how she can't have too much freedom, she needs to find that balance.

Anonymous said...

"She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength."
What does the word overestimate symbolize?
Is it positve or negative?

tanal said...

Yes I agree with Devon, I think that Edna now realizes that she has the power to go against her husband and she enjoys the feeling of the power and control so she will continue

car_l_ey_bb said...

sweta im guessing overestimate is bad. because it means she has confidence....but um. she could die.

juliab said...

I found the parrot very interesting during Chapter 9. I felt he represented both release and repression. He released his emotions without a care, but at the same time repression because the "whole venom of his nature apparently havin been cherished up and hurled against the twins in that one impetuous outburst" (41). The parrot is repressed at the same time because it is not consistant, so he is not completely free.

I'm not sure yet.

Hannah S said...

She is so affected by Mme. Reisz's playing because music is an expression and Edna is so afraid to express herself at first. She is affected because it is a realization that things have to change.

brynnh said...

Josh- I like that Edna's journey to the sea let her realize the potential that she has. The sea is a symbol of freedom and she wants that more than anything else.

Damian L. said...

I drew out that Robert and the sun are one and the same. In other words the sun symbolizes Robert.

Unknown said...

Rachel-
I think that Edna's actions will gradually become bigger and more rebellious. She began by defying her husband and not going to bed. Then she actually called on Robert rather than having him to come to her. I don't know about everyone else, but I don't think that Edna and Robert's relationship is entirely innocent. I think that it is going to escalate into something more than friendship.

Rachel L said...

I agree with Julia, the parrot definitly has to represent something. It may not be clear what he represents at the moment, but he looks like an important symbol.

juliab said...

Rachel --- I think that Edna's outburst will not be the only one in the book, because I think that she has pushed herself slightly into the second stage of becoming a true female.

krump said...

Julia--How does the parrot relate to the birds at the beginning? Do you think they represent freedom, like the sea?

car_l_ey_bb said...

ok so damien, you know on tv theres this show called the dog whisperer? anyway. it kinda expalins because abused dogs are weird, they stay quiet and obey only if the abuse continues, becuase once they get the taste of freedom, they wont stop. shes like that. random i know.

erinl said...

I wonder if Edna swimming out to sea but turning to come back ment that she knows that her freedom is right there infront of her but she doesn't quite know how to control her newfound freedom

car_l_ey_bb said...

julia?

what?

a true female??

Anonymous said...

In Chapter 12, it seems as though Edna is finally standing up to her husband, even if it is just refusing to go inside. Yet, her husband decides to come outside until she gives in. What is the importance of this?

shaunam said...

When she was swimming, is this her way of having freedom being placed into her hands? Away from her repressive husband?

Anonymous said...

What is the significance of Mademoiselle Reisz ( the lady who plays the piano in Chapter 9) saying to Edna "You are the only one worth playing for. Those others? Bah!"( Chopin 35). I personally think that Mademoiselle Reisz knows that the people around her and society hears the music that was written by a great composer or male and not what Edna hears, a expression of the soul longing to be heard in an oppressive society.

krump said...

Damian--What part of Robert is like the sun? How could that relate to night vs. day?

Anonymous said...

Well I think that Mrs Reiz playing the piano was kind of like the first big event of the night. Edna feels feelings she has not felt before and so I think that she it is the first breaking aways and slowing as she goes through the rest of the night she begins to break away more and more

Tina L said...

Christa- I thought that Edna was so affected by the music because she is similar to the sea. Her emotions that night were kind of uncontrollable and unconfined, and it was her way of finding who she really was.

Anonymous said...

Julia-
What is a true female?

car_l_ey_bb said...

yep. damien. sun symbolizes robert because her world revovles around him.

shaunam said...

Lara-
I think that this is symbolic of the fact that she will never have as much inner strength as her husband and that she will always be repressed by him.

clewis said...

Maria-

The birds definately represent freedom because they can fly away from repression.

car_l_ey_bb said...

robert bugs the h**l outa me. hes one of those people that has to bring other down to bring themselves up.

kaytlinr said...

sweta-
I think that in this case overestimating will turn out to be, overconfidence. I think sometime in the story she will get overconfident and say or do something that will cause her downfall or make her life miserable.

car_l_ey_bb said...

was the "i was watching you" a threat? from robert bout her swimming out?

tanal said...

Rachel-
I think Edna's actions will also depend on her husband because if he keeps allowing these outbursts then I think that they will be small but if he shows that he does not approve of it then I think Edna will try harder to overrule him. This kind of reminds me of little kids with their parents because if they know that something is wrong and against the rules then it makes them want to do just that much more.

Anonymous said...

I like kirsten question in the inner circle.
Do you guys think she found herself or did she change?

erinl said...

Josh-
I was wondering the same thing, what makes Edna so special and different from all the other women in their community?

Unknown said...

Tina-
This goes along with the music thing, but while Mrs. Reisz was playing and edna is becoming emotional, the book says, "Perhaps it was the first time she was ready, perhaps the first time her being was tempered to take an impress of the abiding truth". What do you think this means?

car_l_ey_bb said...

maria. her world revolves around robert, thats y hes the sun

Alex_Manning said...

I agree with Tana. Rules are written to be broken

krump said...

Erin--Maybe it's that she shows her rebellion. I'm sure a lot of the other women feel repressed like she does, but they are afraid to show it.

brynnh said...

Sweta- I really like that quote, but i think it is almost meant tobe a negative thing. As we have seen throughout history people become very power hungry. So most likely she won't stop until she acheives all she can. The qoute however is saying that she does not have all the strength she needs to become a true feminist.

saram said...

I really like the connection that Tana made. I think Edna and her husband have the same kind of relationship as a child and their parents. When the parents don't approve, it makes the kid want to do it that much more. So I think that if he keeps trying to overrule her, she will continue to fight back more and more.

Anonymous said...

Shauna-
I definitely agree that this is a metaphor for her husband's constant repression. This book is called the awakening, though. How do you think she will be able to break away?

Anonymous said...

Damian- Could you please explain the symbolism and relation between the Robert and the sun.

Anonymous said...

Carley- I think that when her husband says "I was watching you the whole time" is kind of saying that the husband always keeps her on a leash no matter how far away she feels she is still his wife and he continues to remind her of that

car_l_ey_bb said...

erin.

idk why she is 'special'
childhood experiances?
or simply a victim of a controlled enviroment. like the crucible, they got the taste of freedom i think theyll go crazy with it, do you understand what i mean?
idk

Anonymous said...

The world "overestimating" for me seems really negative.
So i was wondering what point of view is this story written?
Is it written to persuade people into feminism?
If it was then why did that quote bash Edna?

car_l_ey_bb said...

dev - because hes trying to stay in control. freak. ugh.

Damian L. said...

Robert is like the sun because he can be a soft glow that warms your cheek or a blistering fireball searing anything in his path.

saram said...

Devon--
I agree with what you said, but do you think the Edna will ever be able to break away. He seems to be saying that no matter how hard she tries she will always be stuck on his leash for her. Will she ever be successful in breaking away?

Alex_Manning said...

I think that she is attracted to Robert because he doesn't control her as much. It is demonstrated that they want each other. Badly.

juliab said...

Christa --- I think that Edna connected with the music because she yearned to be free like the music and its' player. She realized that there were other ways to rebel against her confinements than to have outbursts that make people not take her seriously.

I think she also felt a connection with the music because she realized that the images that had always come to her weren't coming, and this abscence made her realize that she now has to set her own story. Thanks to the music, she now realizes that she has some power over her future.

brynnh said...

Maria- Birds might represent freedom, but they usually follow the birds that lead when they fly. Do you think that edna will do the same, instead of making her own path?

car_l_ey_bb said...

sweta


idk. i think its postive, se doesnt seem like she overestimates herslef alot you know, i think the book incourages taking your own destiny into your own hands....before its to late?

Anonymous said...

Wow cool disscussion on inner blog!! Why do you think that Edna all of a sudden have desire for Robert? Is it because he repects her and she has never really had much respect from her husband or from anyone??

Anonymous said...

Wow cool disscussion on inner blog!! Why do you think that Edna all of a sudden have desire for Robert? Is it because he repects her and she has never really had much respect from her husband or from anyone??

Anonymous said...

Wow cool disscussion on inner blog!! Why do you think that Edna all of a sudden have desire for Robert? Is it because he repects her and she has never really had much respect from her husband or from anyone??

Alex_Manning said...

Ohhh i like the imagery, Damien.

car_l_ey_bb said...

alex - i think she likes him because of the same reason, hes diffrent, and lets her b her, big deal to most chicks.

Anonymous said...

What is the symbolism of Edna's long sleep? Why does the world seem "changed" to her?

Anonymous said...

Erin- I don't think that Edna is special as more different. She seems to understand Mademoiselle Reisz because they are both troubled souls looking for a place in the world that is entirely their own.

erinl said...

I think that Edna is attracked to Robert simply because he gives her attention, and does whatever she wants. I think that both of them are also somewhat rebellious

krump said...

Jess--Are you at home?

I think that as an important figure in so many people's lives, she is afraid to break away from what they expect her to be.

car_l_ey_bb said...

dev - i think its becuase shes nvr been respected before, i think hes helping her discover herself.

juliab said...

People keep saying that Robert follows her because he respects her, but what is there to respect in Edna (from Robert's point of view)?

juliab said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jberry said...

Erin & Josh-

There is always someone who is going to doubt society.

1984-- You have the main character (I forget his name)
Faherenheit- Montag
The Awakening- Edna

Edna isn't neccesary the only person, she just represents all those women who are beginning to feel suppressed.

tanal said...

Devon-

I do agree with that and thinks thats why she is attracted to Robert and I also think that he gives her more freedom.

brynnh said...

I'm not saying she doesn't have the power to be a feminist, but I think she is still really confused of what she wants. Once she becomes more determined she will have the power to do anything.

kaytlinr said...

sweta-
I don't think that she has found herself yet. I think that now she has freedom, it's a phase that she's going through. Like when you are a little kid and you get a new toy, you play with it all the time and don't put it down, and then you get a differenttoy and you forget all about it. But, I definitly believe that she has changed.

jberry said...

Maria-

yeahh!I'm at home. Hey guys, I'm finally able to stay awake long enough to focus.

Anonymous said...

Lara I think that Edna had a revelation of some sort where she relized something about her and decided to charge her life and so her short sleep symbolized her energy to start her new life and to change her life the way she wanted it.

krump said...

Dev--Yes, I think that's exactly what it is. I think it's happening all of a sudden because shes noticing other things, and he's just a small part. Maybe she just likes the feeling of rebelling, of doing something outside what she is supposed to, not the act itself.

Anonymous said...

Carley-
I agree about taking your destiny in your hands part.
That is very true...but what is her destiny?
Is it freedom or oppression?
Or death?

Rachel L said...

I don't think Edna has a sudden yearning for Robert because she is attaracted physically to him, but because it is completely against moral code bacck then to affiliate in any sort of romantic way with someone other than your husband. I think she's just after Robert to give herself a feeling of breaking away from the society's view of the norm.

shaunam said...

Brynn--
I agree. I don't think she'll do anything drastic until she realizes her full power, and knows what she wants.

car_l_ey_bb said...

side note.


this feminism thing sill bothers me. if a boy starts to realize he is under an outer forces control and break away is he a masculist?

the intire idea bothers me.
explanation>?

car_l_ey_bb said...

sweta.


her destiny can be whatever.




but she should have the right to chose it.


herself.

erinl said...

JESS!
I agree that there are always characters that try to rebel

There was also that one person that said that she only following religon because it was a habit. Connects to 1984 etc. People who just do and don't think

krump said...

Jess--Way to represent the greatness of 6th hour.

jberry said...

Julia-

I personally think that Robert doesn't respect her. It's his job as a husband to attend to his wife. He realizes that she is different, that she wants more independence, and so he tells her that he respects her as a way to keep her close to him. When in reality, he could care less, he jsut doesn't want to lose his wife.

Unknown said...

Julia-
Good point. For some reason, I don't think that Robert really respects Edna. He just flits from woman to woman, and he doesn't really seem like he has a heartfelt commitment to a specific one. I think that he may think that he loves Edna, simply because liking someone and "being in love" are warm fuzzy feelings that are exciting, but I don't think that he is truly in love with her. I don't think his devotion stems from respect.