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The Awakening

Contents

The Author
Brief Synopsis
Characters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Themes - Rebirth
Themes - Birds
Themes - Victorian Women
Questions for Study  

 


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CHAPTER 21

Summary

Mlle. Reisz is delighted that Edna has called to see her.  She too has received a letter from Robert in Mexico, but the contents are almost entirely concerning Edna, which cheers Edna up.  She has been depressed recently and that is what prompted her to seek out Mlle. Reisz.

In Robert’s letter, he asks that Mlle. Reisz should play a special piece of music for Edna – Chopin’s impromptu.

Edna tells her hostess that she wishes to spend more time with her sketching, and wants to become more adept in this art form. Mlle. Reisz tells Edna that she must be courageous and if so, she will be successful.

The competent pianist starts playing the Chopin piece whilst Edna reads the letter from Robert.  The moving music brings tears to Edna’s eyes and this is compounded by Mlle. Reisz playing ‘Isolde’s Song’.

Mlle. Reisz tells Edna that she is always welcome in her home.

Interpretation

This is an important Chapter.

It signifies a change in allegiance by Edna from her former friend Ad'le to the free and understanding Mlle. Reisz. 

Edna became alienated from Ad'le when she last visited and could not abide the thought of becoming like her, as L'once had suggested. Edna wishes to become like Mlle. Reisz, obligated to no-one, pursuing her art for her own gratification and to entertain others. Edna hopes that her artistry will also provide her with the same benefits.

We read, “Edna did not know when the Impromptu began or ended. She sat in the sofa corner reading Robert’s letter by the fading light.  Mlle. had glided from the Chopin into the quivering love notes of Isolde’s Song, and back again to the Impromptu with its soulful, poignant longing.”  Edna realizes she is at a crossroads in her life, and Robert’s words concerning her, plus the music, bring out her full emotions. We realize, therefore, that as the letter was addressed to Mlle. Reisz, she will be aware of Robert and Edna’s secret love, but we also wonder whether this will be an unfulfilled love.

Our author, Chopin, has specifically picked these two pieces of music symbolizing the almost unworldly relationship between Robert and Edna, which is far removed from the society that they are from. Also, Isolde’s Song comes from Wagner’s opera ‘Tristan and Isolde’, which is a tragic love story, and we therefore assume that Edna and Robert’s story will also be tragic in its conclusion.  Tristan was a single man in love with a married woman, and their relationship was to have fatal repercussions.

 




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