Final Awakening Posting!

[Rachel Bumgardner]

Parenthetical citation + Image explanation

Chapter XXXVI

1) How is the garden in the suburbs used as a symbol?

2) In what ways is the new Edna more conventional than Robert?

Chapter XXXVII

1) What are Edna's feelings while she watches Adele prepare for the birth of her child?

2) What kind of warning does Adele try to give Edna?

3) How does Edna feel during the birth?

Chapter XXXVIII

1) What is Edna's frame of mind as she returns home after her conversation with Doctor Mandelet?

2) What news does she find from Robert? What does he mean?

3) How does Edna spend the rest of the evening?

Chapter XXXIV

1) What is the setting?

2) What picture has Victor given Edna? How is this ironic?

3) What is Edna's demeanor towards Victor?

4) What realization does Edna come to about herself, Leonce, her children, and Robert? (Mention all characters!)

5) Find the quotation that shows the seductive nature of the ocean. Post this quotation.

6) Why is the removal of her clothes symbolic? 

7) What are Edna's last thoughts? Explain.

8) Do you think her "death" is open to interpretation? Explain.  

[Kathryn Burt]

1.  The garden is described as a place "too modest to attract the attention of people of fashion, and so quiet as to have escaped the notice of those in search of pleasure and dissapation" (Chopin, 174).  Edna did discover this place, and spends much time here, her being one of the fortunate "lucky" ones capable of finding the gardenn  It is a santuary for her, but it is also symbolic of her herself, a person that few understand and even fewer would try to understand.

2.  Edna always talks to Robert using his first name, and he always responds with "Mrs. Pontellier" this and "Mrs. Pontellier" that, using formality to place a boundary between them.  Moreover, Edna is much more blatant with her emotions and actions, she's about as subtle as a gun, whereas Robert is more reserved, waiting for the opertune moment to present itself before he plays his hand (Chopin, 174-176).

1.  Edna is concerned for the health of her friend, but it seems to me that she is almost annoyed at her friend's behavior and that she had to go and see her.  It is almost as if Edna is thinking to herself "well, this is what you get for letting propriety rule you" (Chopin, 180).

2.  Adele tells Edna to "think of the children! Remember them" (Chopin, 182).  This could be construed as Adele's attempts to make Edna realize that her behavior could tarnish more than her own reputation, but also the reputation of her children, whom she brought into this world and thus are responsible for.

3.   Edna is really revolted.  She remembers her own experiences with childbirth, which were painful and traumatic, and that comes to the surface as she watches Adele give birth.  The only reason that she stayed was because Adele begged her to, and she felt she owed her friend that favor (Chopin, 180-181).

1.  Edna is finally begining to think about the effect her behavior could have on her children, although, she is still violently fighting against anything that will tarnish her freedom or keeping her from what she desires.  She knows what the "right" thing to do is, but she refuses to acknowledge that as an option as the idea of going back to the unhappy life she had before is unfathomable (Chopin, 183-184).

2.  Edna finds that Robert has left her out of love for her (Chopin, 185).  Edna wants Robert, but she does not want to be tied down to him, she no longer wants to be seen as a possession.  In a previous conversation, Robert admits that he has had fantasies of Leonce allowing her to leave and being able to marry Edna, and she laughs him off and says that she would say no (Chopin, 177-178).  Robert loves Edna, but is unwilling to tarnish her reputation or his for the sake of that love, he believes adultery to be wrong and so he leaves Edna to save her from herself and from him.

3.  Edna spends the rest of the evening lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, in the dark (Chopin, 185).

1.  The settting is Grand Isle (Chopin, 186).

2.  Victor envisions Edna, and describes her to others, as this beautfiul, unearthly creature with powers of manipulation over people (especially men), almost like Venus or Aphrodite (Chopin, 186-187).  What is ironic about this, is that Edna has completely isolated herself from society, she has nobody left, not even Robert, and she has come to Grand Isle alone and with nothing, just, as a woman.

3.  Edna is very calm and polite, but also very cavalier, as if he is below her notice (Chopin, 187-188).

4.  Edna realizes that she never wanted anything, Leonce, her children, her friends, her status, any of it; they were all just things to antagonize her and to hold her back.  The only thing she ever wanted was Robert, and he is not tanglible, he's an impossible dream, and he is evidence of her limitations (Chopin, 189).

5.  "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmering, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude" (Chopin, 189).

6.  Edna is leaving the world as she came into it, just her, with no things hanging onto her, no obligations or placations or masks.  She wants to leave as herself, not as everyone wanted or invisioned her to be (Chopin, 189).

7.  Edna's last thoughts are of various memories of her life, if you will, her life is flashing before her eyes (Chopin, 190).

8.  The thing about Edna's death, is that it could be construed one of two ways: either she won, or she lost.  Edna's death was intentional, it was her way of escaping her children, her husband, Robert, her obligations, everything.  In her mind, her death was the only thing left that she could control, and so, in a way she won.  She won her freedom.      On the other hand, suicide is the ultimate form of surrender.  Everyone was against Edna and what she wanted, even Robert, and so her suicide could easily be interpreted as her way of giving up, of giving herself and others peace because she was unwilling to go back to the way things were and she believed it impossible to move forward.  The interesting thing about her death, is that she did it in a way that could be seen as an accident, so that there would be no evidence pointing towards suicide, ie: her husband and children's reputations would be safe, as would Robert's and Alcee's and everyone elses.  She resented her children, and he husband, and her life, but her final act was more than just giving herself freedom, she gave "freedom" to everyone else to continue to live how they chose: in oppression.

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[Conner Church]

1. It is used as a sybol of peace and serenity (164).

2. I think Edna is actually more unconventional than Robert. He explains that he wants to marry her but she explains that she only wants to love him (167).

3. Edna is quite uncomfortable and it reminds her of her own experience with child birth (169-170).

4. She reminds Edna that her children are the most important (170).

5. The birth upsets her because it reminds her of her own experience and her children (170).

6. She thinks about Robert and his way of embracing her (172).

7. She finds a note from him that says "I love you. Goodbye- because I love you." He does want to ruin her relationship with her husband (172).

8. She cannot sleep and stays awake the entire night (172).

9. Grand Isle.

10. Victor sees her as a very sociable peron who throws great parties (174). This is ironic because she is actually a woman who enjoys being left alone.

11. She is indifferent and seems to not care about what he is saying (174-176).

12. She realizes that her life will be full of lovers and she will soon grow tired of Robert and Arobin. She is not at all concerned with Leonce but is concerned with her children (175).

13. "The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace (176)."

14. She thinks about how her children and Leonce are part of her life but she will not give them her body and soul (176).

15. Yes, I believe it could have been taken litereally that she killed herself. However, it could be seen that she has killed her "unawakened" self and has moved on (176).

This image is representative of Edna's last swim out to sea.

[Kathryn Burt]

This is a picture of a white flag, for Edna's surrender to the oppressions of the world she lived in.

[Benjamin Tharrington]

1. The garden in the suburbs is used as a symbol for Edn'a own inner sanctuary, and when Robert enters it, it is shown as his intrusion into Edna's own personal thoughts (Chopin 164).

2.She is more conventional than Robert beause she has fully imersed herself in her own inner sanctuary, so since she is surrounding herself in her own thoughts and peace, she has become more content and agreeable (Chopin 164-165).

1.Edna seems to almost feel sorry for Adele. That she has gotten herself into what seh feels is the opposite of an awkening, that Adele is now going to devote herself to her children and family, rather than herself (Chopin 168).

2. Adele gave her the warning "Think of the children, Edna. Oh think of the children! Remember them!" (Chopin 170). 

3. Edna feels remorseful, she remebers all that she went through for the birth of her children all that time ago and that what she is doing is making all of that go to waste. "Edna began to feel uneasy... was seized with a vague dread. Her own like experiences seemed far away, unreal, and only half remembered... faintly an ecstasy of pain... and an awakening to find a little new life to whhcih she had given being, added to the grwat unnumbered multitude of souls that come and go" (Chopin 170).

1. Edna's frame of mind as she talks with the doctor is that her awkening may have been a waste, that she has been living a lie. This is shown beacuse she seems to be only half into the conversation that she is having with the docotr. Her thoughts are gagged and incoherent, and she keeps bringing up the topic of sleeping and reaming, versus waking and living (Chopin 171).

2. Robert leaves the news for Edna that he is leaving her on a note in her house (Chopin 172). He means that though he loves her, they cannot be toggether because it can't happen in the society that they live in. Their reputations would be ruined in the life that they live, and it would be less harm for everyone to go back to the life that they lived before, for the hope of them having a romantic relationship was a fanciful dream.

3. Edna spend the rest of the evening distraught and "She went and sat on the sofa. Then she stretched herself out there, never uttering a sound. She did not sleep. She did not go to bed... She was still awake in the morning" (Chopin 172).

1. They are back at Grande Ilse (Chopin 172-173).

2. Victor gives Edna a picture of a real life Venus, entrancingly beautiful and showered in love by all men around her "Venus rising from the foam... entrancing spectaccle... blazing with beauty and diamonds... while other women were all of them youthful houris, possesed of incomparable charms" (Chopin 173). 

3. Edna's demeanor towards Victor is indifferent, she is not repulsed by him as she usually is, yet she does not particuarlly care for him either (Chopin 174).

4. Her realization of herself is that she has been careless with her decisions and with the people that she gets involved with. She realizes that Leonce does not care enough about her to stop her from being with all these other men. She realizes that she has only truly loved Robert; and that her children were not truly her children in her eyes, just something that burdened her and held her back from her awakening (Chopin 175).

5. "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude" (Chopin 175).

6. The removal of her clothes is symbolic because she ha felt that she has truly awoken, that she is truly a new person by discovering what she wants in life, and compares herself to a new-born creature in that way (Chopin 175).

7. Her last thoughts were of her momoeries, thoughts, and realiztaions of all her experiences that happened in her awakening. Her life was pretty mush flashing before her eyes. She was reminding herself of who she was a why she was doing what she was doing (Chopin 176).

8. I think that her death is open to interpretation because it doesn't specificaly say how she died, or how she felt when she died. It only gives us her thoughts when she about to die. So we can interpret how she was feeling and what all these things added up to in her mind (Chopin 176).

Throughout the novel the sea is symbolic to Edna of her awakening, and at the end it is her eventual destination.

 "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude" (Chopin 175).

-Ben Tharrington

[jordan Wiegman]

chapter XXXVI

1. The suburbs are used as a symbol of a simpler life less superficial life (164).

2. The new Edna is more conventional than Robert because she has more rational plans for her and Roberts relationship (167).

 

Chapter XXXVII

1. Edna is repeled by her thoughts and memories of pain while giving birth to her children (170).

2. Adele tries to tell Edna to think of her children to guilt her into staying with Leonce (170).

3. Edna felt numb, numb to all feeling, during childbirth (170).

 

ChapterXXXVIII

1. Edna is thinking about all of the people in her life and her relationship with them and who she owes most in life (173).

2. Edna finds a letter from Robert. This letter could possibly be Robert saying goodbye forever (172).

3. Edna spends the evening awake, thinking (172).

 

Chapter XXXIX

1. The chapters setting is Grande Isle (173).

2. Victor paints her as the perfect woman. this is ironic because Edna's infadelity is not a very desirable trait yet VIctor paints her as a perfect person (173).

3. Edna seems to be indifferent to Victor (173).

4. Edna realizes that Robert will not be with her and there can be an infinite number of men like him, that Leonce is not worth her time, and that the only people she owes anything to are her children (175).

5. "the voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the sould to wander the abysses of solitude." (175).

6. The removal of clothes is a metaphore to her strippping all of the unnesecary things from her life (175).

7. Edna's last thoughts are about all of the people that wronged her and how that in her final act of resilliance she realizes she is the only person in the wrong (176).

8. Her death cannot be interpreted but the reasons for her taking her own life can be (176). Interpreting her death would degrade the significance of it while interpreting her feelings would explain her suicude.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

Parenthetical citation + Image explanation

Chapter XXXVI

1) How is the garden in the suburbs used as a symbol?

2) In what ways is the new Edna more conventional than Robert?

Chapter XXXVII

1) What are Edna's feelings while she watches Adele prepare for the birth of her child?

2) What kind of warning does Adele try to give Edna?

3) How does Edna feel during the birth?

Chapter XXXVIII

1) What is Edna's frame of mind as she returns home after her conversation with Doctor Mandelet?

2) What news does she find from 

3) How does Edna spend the rest of the evening?

Chapter XXXIX

[Alicia Thomas]

Chapter XXXVI

1) The garden is used as Edna's private place. It is where she goes when she needs to be secluded; it is almost like a sanctuary that she believes only she knows about.

2) Edna is more conventional because she has the attitude that because they love each other they should be together. She explains that she is "no longer one of Mr. Pontellier's possessions to dispose of or not." (178).

Chapter XXXVII

1) Edna, at the beginning, was "possessed of a cheerful nature, and refused to take any situation too seriously" (181).

2) Adele told Edna to "think of the children! Remember them!" (182).

3) Edna feels a sense of dread and "she began to wish she had not come; her presence was not neccessary. She might have invented a pretext for staying away; she might even invent a pretext for now going. But Edna did not go. With an inward agony, with a flaming, outspoke, revolt against the ways of Nature, she witnessed the scene toture." (182). 

Chapter XXXVIII

1) Edna has decided that she will deal with thinking about her children and turbulent emotions tomorrow: "She meant to think of them; that determination had driven into her soul like a death wound- but not tonight. Tomorrow would be the time to think of everything." (185).  

2) When she returns she finds a letter from Robert saying "I love you. Good-by-- because I love you" (185). I believe Robert is saying he loves her, so he will let her go.

3) Edna stretched out on the couch and did not sleep at all (185).

Chapter XXXIV

1) They are back at Grande Ilse (172).

2) Victor has painted her as the perfect women, despite her less admirable traits such as her affair and rashness.

3) Edna seemed very indifferent, which put Mariequita's mind at ease.

4) She understands that she does not care if it is Arobin or Leonce; she only wants Robert. She has come to think of her children as "antagonists who had overcome her, who had overpowered and sought to drag her into the soul's slavery for the rest of her days." (189).

5) "The sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting to the soul to wander in the abysses of solitude." (189).

6) For me, I interpreted it as Edna finally leaves behind all of her weight, stress, and emotions she has felt throughout the book. This is her final awakening.

7) Edna thinks about the first time she swam and all the people that has impacted her life.

8) I believe that it can be interpreted. I interpreted it as her commiting suicide. However, I can see where some people could take this as a metaphor and this is really Edna's happiness and spirit that died. 

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

[Ally Lewis]

Chapter XXXVI

1). The garden is used as a symbol of the way Edna wants to do her own thing, and not be disturbed by the daily life of the real world. It is a symbol of her wanting to do her own kind of thing. (164)

2)Edna is more conventional that Robert in the sense that she likes the be walked home, and that she knows its worng to mess with a married women, and that he was foolish for wanting her when she was married. (168)

Chapter XXXVII

1)She is feeling anxious to get back to Robert, and that she doesn't really want to be there except for the fact that she promised her friend that she would be. (170)

2)She says "think of the childern, Edna. Oh think of the childern! Remember them." Saying that remember what is important in her life, and do not neglect them. That it's time to stop being selfish and worry about more important things like your childern. (170)

3) She feels very uneasy, and that nature is against its ways. She calls it a scence of almost torture. It was complete agony for her to watch. (170)

Chapter XXXVII

1) That the doctor is kinda like a know it all, but doesn't really know what he is talking about with her. And that nothing really matters as long as she gets to see Robert, and that she already misses him. (172)

2)She finds a letter saying "I love you. Good-by__because I love you." And it basically means that he doesn't want to have to make her choose anything, and that its too much for him and that he loves her but hes leaving her. (172)

3) The rest of the night she doesn't sleep a peek. She just sits on the sofa and stayed awake untill the next morning. (172)

Chapter XXXIX

1)The setting is on Victor's porch.(173)

2)The picture he gives her is of a oerfect house, and the perfect party, but really she wasn't feeling so perfect. (173)

3)Edna's demeoner towards Victor is friendly, almost pushy  but nice none the less. She wants to stay near him, and fo  him to cook for her. (174)

4)Edna's realization she comes to find about her self is that she has been awakened from a past miserable life, Robert was leaving her alone and that she had really loved him, no matter what and she thought of her childern as antagonists who had over comed her, and wanted to drag her soul slavery. And she thought of Leonce who had been a part of her life but could not controll her anymore or have power over her, who cannot possess her her body, mind, or soul.(175-176)

5)"She felt like some new born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world that it had never known, The foamy wavelets curled up to her white feet, and coiled like serpents about her ankles. She walked out. The water was chill but she walked on...The water was deep, but lifted her white body and reached out with a long sweeping stroke. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace. (175-176)

6)Whats symbolic of her taken her clothes off is that she is being awakening and that she has absoulty no restrictions to her nothing at all that is holding her down to anything. She is a free women inside and out. (175)

7)I feel Edna's last thoughts were her being in relief of taking charge of her life and her rebellion. That she had finally proud her point on life andd that she was proud of it, that she was at ease. (176)

8)I feel her death symbolizes her new way of life, even though its a death its a born again kind of way. She wasn't happy before, and that she wanted to stand out and do somehting different, and thats what she did. (176)

 

This picture represents ocean and the way Edna dies, and how she is finally at peace with herself and others.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

[Erin Kelly]

1. The garden is used as a symbol because it is a contrast between her like. The garden is really peaceful, but her life is not (164).

2. Edna is more conventional than Robert because she has more rational plans for her and Robert (164).  

1. She didn't seem to be feeling much, it did not mention emotion until the actual birth began. (180)

2. She says "Think of the children, Edna. Oh think of the children! Remember them!" (182) Maybe this was foreshadowing Edna's carlessness at the end of the book.

3. She felt uneasy sick. (181)

1. She still didn't feel too good, and remained in a "dazed" state of mind (183).

2. Robert left a note that said "I love you.Goodbye--because i love you" (185).

3. She just sat on her couch awake the rest of the night (185). 

1. Victor is repairing his front porch with Mariequita watching (186).

2. Victor is talking to Mariequita about how amazing Mrs. Pontellier and the party were (186).

3. She is less talkative than usual (187).

4. I think she discovered that she didn't really care about herself anymore. (188). 

5. "The foamy wavelets curled up to her white feet, and coiled like serpents about her ankles" (189).

6. She has reached the point where she absolutely doesn't care what people think; she is 100% out there in the open.

7. She thought of how Leonce and her children were a part of her life, but they were not her whole life, how Reisz had laughed at her, what Robert wrote on the note, and the sounds of her childhood (190).

8. I think she literally drowned and also metaphorically drowned. She was so emotionally in stable that she just self destructed. 

[Gordon Taylor]

1. It's symbolic of simplicity and calmness.

2. I wouldn't say she's more conventional; Robert is the one who knows that she shouldn't be with anyone but her husband, and Edna is running around doing anything she wants. Which for that time was very unconventional behavior.

1. She didn't seem to beel feeling much, it didn't mention much emotion until the birth began. (180)

2. She says "Think of the children, Edna. Oh think of the children! Remember them!" (182) Maybe this was foreshadowing Edna's thoughtlessness at the end of the book.

3. She felt uneasy and kind of sick. (181)

1. She still didn't feel too good, and remained in a "dazed" state of mind (183).

2. Robert left a note that said "I love you.Goodbye--because i love you" (185).

3. She just sat or layed on her couch awake the rest of the night (185). 

1. Victor is repairing his front porch with Mariequita watching (186).

2. Victor is talking to Mariequita about how amazing Mrs. Pontellier and the party were (186).

3. She's kind of reserved and just less talkative than usual (187).

4. I think she discovered that she didn't really care about herself anymore. She also discovered that since she couldn't have Robert, then "today it is Arobin; tomorrow it will be someone else" (188). That quote references that she could never be satisfied without Robert, not with her husband, not with her kids, and not with herself.

5. "The foamy wavelets curled up to her white feet, and coiled like serpents about her ankles" (189).

6. She has reached the point where she absolutely doesn't care what people think; she is 100% out there in the open.

7. She thought of how Leonce and her children were a part of her life, but did not posess her, how Reisz had laughed at her, what Robert wrote on the note, and finally sounds from her childhood (190).

8. No, I think its pretty clear that she became exhausted and drowned.

1. This represents the final section well because I think she drowned at the end.

[Erin Kelly]

This is how i pictured the garden that Edna always went to.

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[Layne Pierce]

1. It is used as a symbol of serene simplicity.
2. She has conformed to the idea that she and Robert can live a happy, functional life together, Robert knows this is not true because she already has a family.

1. She feels distant and begins to realize her disregard for her own children. (180)
2. She tells Edna to "think of her children".(182)
3. She felt uneasy and sick. (181)

1.  She has realized that she has been acting very selfishly.(183)
2. Robert has left a letter for her telling her "Goodby--because I love you, goodby. He means that his leaving is for her own good.(185)
3. She spends her evening feeling depressed, and haunted by thoughts of her children and the guilt she feels for abandoning them.(185)

1. Victor is repairing his front porch.(186)
2. He makes her out to be very high class. He describes in detail how much he enjoyed her party. (186)
3. She quiet and a little standoffish.(187) 
4. She feels that she has abandoned her children, for that he feels guilt. Leonce can never fullfill her dreams or desires. Robert does not understand her, and she finds that she no longer cares. (188)
5. "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude"(189)
6. Her nudity describes rebirth. Like a newborn, she feels pure and new to the world. (190)
7. She thinks of the letter, and how Robert would never understand her. 
8. I think it is pretty clear that she died. It's not likely that she would have swam completely nude across the ocean to get out on the other side and start a new life.

*I chose this one because Picard looks very ashamed, and Edna was ashamed of the way she had been toward her family.

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[jordan Wiegman]

 

This image is an example of the message that Edna leaves to all of the people in her life. Her appearing normal one moment, then deciding to let herself sink the next is compliant to her character. This goodbye is an angry goodbye to Robert for leaving and to Leonce for being so self absorbed. The goodbye is also an apology to her children for being an "unworthy" mother.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

[Alicia Thomas]

This image represents after Robert leaves which makes Edna walks into the sea and presumably, her death.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

[Emily Holt]

Chapter XXXVI

1) The garden in the suburbs is used as a symbol because it was her access to freedom. She goes there to rest and to gather herself. She spends time there when she wants to get away from reality.

2) The new Edna is more conventional than Robert because 

Chapter XXXVII

1) Edna felt uncomfortable, "Edna began to feel uneasy. She was seized with a vague dread. Her own like experiences seemed far away, unreal, and only half remembered" (Chopin 181). Edna was facing reality and couldn't believe what she was seeing, "She began to wish she had not come...She was still stunned and speechless with emotion when later she leaned over her friend to kiss her and softly say good-by" (Chopin 182).

2) Adle gives Edna a warning, "Adele, pressing against her cheek, whispered in an exhausted voice: 'Think of the children, Edna. Oh think of the children! Rememeber them!'" (Chopin 182). Adele doesn't want Edna to forget about her children because all Edna focuses on and thinks about is juggling the three men in her life. Edna thinks that she must always have a man in her life to love rather than be focusing on her children. 

3) During the birth Edna wishes that she had never come. She is stunned and speechless (Chopin 182).

Chapter XXXVIII

1) Edna's frame of mind set as she returns home after her conversation with Doctor Mandelet is focused on Robert. She was thinking of what he said the hour before Adele had sent for her. She also remembered what Adele had said to her, "Still, she remembered Adele's voice whispering, 'Think of the children; think of them'" (Chopin 185). She couldn't sleep that night.

2) The news that Edna finds from Robert is on "...a piece of paper that lay in the lamplight: 'I love you. Good-by---because I love you'" (Chopin 185). By this he means that he is leaving but he still loves her. I feel that his frame of mind set is that of the famous quote "If you love something, let it go."

3) Edna spends the rest of the evening on the sofa and couldn't sleep. She only laid there all night (Chopin 185).

Chapter XXXIX

1) Victor and Mariequita are on the Pontellier's porch. Victor is fixing it up while Mariequita talks and observes. It is extremely hot and dry (Chopin 186). Grand Isle.

2) The picture Victor that he has given Edna is that she is a woman who seems to have all the men in New Orleans at her feet (Chopin 187). This is ironic because she has all these men who have feelings toward her but yet she is depressed because the only man she loves will not be with her because she is married to Leonce.

3) Edna's demeanor towards Victor is very friendly but she seems like she almost expects Victor to make her dinner (Chopin 187). She seems demanding even though she is only asking of him, not commanding.

4) Edna realizes that she doesn't need every man in her life at her feet to make her happy, "There was no human being whom she wanted near her except Robert; and she even realized that the day would come when he, too, and the thought of him would melt out of her existance, leaving her alone" (Chopin 189). She knew that one day she would forget about him all together. She came to realize that Leonce and her children are part of her life but will not and cannot control her, "She thought of Leonce and the children. They were a part of her life. But they need not have thought and that they could possess her, body and soul" (Chopin 190).

5) "The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace" (Chopin 189).

6) The removal of her clothes is symbolic because she feels a sense of freedom. It was her final awakening, "She felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familar world that it had never known" (Chopin 189).

7) Edna's last thoughts are of what Robert said on the piece of paper, her father's and sister Margaret's voice, and of a dog barking, and of the spurs of the calvary officer that clanged as he walked across the porch (Chopin 190). These are her last thoughts because she realizes that she will never hear these soothing sounds ever again. She will never see or hear these people in her life anymore.

8) Yes, I do think Edna's death is open to interpretation because some people could take it figuratively that she finally was awakened and at this moment and some others could take it in a way that she had beceome weak in her faith and love.

I chose this picture because her last swim was her final awakening. She realizes her life will never fully satisfy her and that love is never permanent. She is awakened to her weakness. Love.

On Thu, Dec 13, 2012 at 4:55 PM, Rachel Bumgardner <rachel.b...@nhcs.net> wrote:

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[camden.batts]

Chapter XXXVI

1. The garden in the suburbs is Edna happy place (164).

2. When Edna talks to Robert, she uses first his first name. Where as, Robert talks to Edna by saying Mrs. Pontellier. I think he does this to keep distance between himself and Edna. Also, Edna is more blunt than Robert (174-176).

Chapter XXXVII

1. When Adele is preparing for childbirth Edna feels uncomfortable because it reminds her of her own childbirth (169-170).

2. Adele reminds Edna that children are the most important thing in her life (170).

3. Again, Edna doesn't like anything to do with childbirth because it reminds her of her own childbirth of her kids (170-171).

Chapter XXXVIII

1. She is thinking about Robert and how they embrace one another (172).

2. He sends a note saying "I love you. Goodbye- because I love you." He writes this note because he doesn't want Edna marriage to be messed up (172).

3. Edna can't sleep and stays awake all night (172).

Chapter XXXIV

1. The setting is at the Grand Isle.

2. Victor sees Edna as a sociable person, who throws great parties. When actually she really likes to be alone (174).

3. Edna doesn't really care what Victor is saying (174-176).

4. Edna realizes that her life is full of lovers and she has rejected that fact that she is married to Leonce. Her only true concere is her children (175).

5. "The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace." (176).

6. She knows that Leonce and her children are a part of her life, but she's too selfish to truely give them her full love and effort/soul (176).

7. The clothes are like an old skin. She "sheads" them because she is fully awoken now in her new life (176).

8. Yes, I think she killed herself (176).

This picture represents Edna floating in the ocean.

[christophermitchell722]

1. It is seen as a peaceful place devoid of turmoil (164)

2. She has a more rational view of the future than Robert, and of how their relationship will turn out (167)

3. She is almost upset by it, and it brings her back to her own memories of child birth; which she is not fond of (169-170).

4. She tries to convince her not to leave Leonce, because she knows it will hurt her children (170).

5. Very uncomfortable and upset (169-170).

6. She is filled with thoughts of Robert, and other people who have meant something to her in her life (171).

7. She finds a note that he has left for her, basically explaining that he is going to leave her life because he loves her, and doesn't want to ruin it (172).

8. She tosses and turns on the couch, unable to sleep (172).

9. Grande Isle

10. He views her in a very fond manor, which is ironic because she doesn't think very highly of him at all, to say the least (174).

11. She does not care for him or his opinions (176).

12. She realizes that she cares more for her own desires than anything else. She realizes that she will eventually no longer want Alcee or Robert, and throw them away like trash. She realizes that she doesn't care very much for Leonce, but she loves her children (175).

13. "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmering, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude" (189).

14. The removal of her clothes is symbolic because it is almost like she is shedding her skin and transforming into a new person (175).

15. Her last thoughts are of her life and her experiences (190).

16. Yes, because the author doesn't explicitly state that she does in fact drown.

This picture is symbolic of her drowning.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

[Rachel Snider]

1. The peacefulness and simplicity of the garden serves as a contrast
to Edna's hectic, complicated life (178).
2. Edna is willing to break the traditional bondages of marriage, that
is, she is willing to get a divorce, in order to be with Robert; he
hardly considers the option (178).

1. Edna felt "uneasy" and she was "seized with a vague dread" about
her predicament as well as Adele's (181).
2. After giving birth, Adele says "Think of the children, Edna. Oh
think of the children! Remember them" (182). She is still worried
about Edna's reputation, and wants her to consider her children before
going off with another man.
3. She siffered "inward agony, with a flaming, outspoken revolt
against the ways of Nature" (182).

1. She ignores his offer to talk, and focuses her thoughts on Robert (185).
2. Sh finds a note from Robert saying, "Good-by---because I love you"
(185). He is saying that he cannot be with her, because she is married
and needs to respect that.
3. Edna stays on the couch, thinking, for the rest of the night (185).

1. The story has shifted back to Grand Isle;they are on a dock and
then Edna goes to the beach (186-189).
2. Victor makes Edna seem like the queen of her kingdom. He said she
was "blazing with beauty and diamonds," which adds to the image (186).
This is ironic because she did not feel like a queen, rather, that her
life was spinning out of control.
3. She doesn't show him any compassion and wishes that he would go away (170).
4. She realizes that she has been truly awakened. She doesn't believe
that Leonce has any right to control her, and she feels the same about
her children, though she feels more of a connection to them. She
realizes that Robert would never understand that she was willing to
leave her current life to be with him, and that they shouldn't care
what others think of them (190).

5. "The foamy wavelets curled up to her white feet, and coiled like

serpents about her ankles. She walked out. The water was chill, but
she walked on. The water was deep, but she lifted her white body and
reached out with a long, sewwping stroke. The touch of the sea is
sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace (189).
6. It is symbolic of her family throwing away all inhibitions and
susceptibility to judgement (189).
7. Her last thoughts are about her life, since her childhood. Her life
is flashing before her, which alludes to her death (190).
8. To me, her death is final and the obvious outcome, but I believe it
is open to interpretation, as any number of things could have
happened, such as someone saving her.

This shows the final moments of Edna's life, when she is remembering
flashes of her life.

On Thu, Dec 13, 2012 at 4:55 PM, Rachel Bumgardner
<rachel.b...@nhcs.net> wrote:

[Olivia Fisscher]

Chapter XXXVI

1. The garden in the city represents Edna's place of calmness and tranquility, her most private thoughts, which she invites Robert to be a part of (163-164).

2. Edna knows that they could never be married but Robert wishes that there was a way for them to be truly together (167).

Chapter XXXVII

1. Edna is annoyed that Adele made her be there because she is not needed and in the way (170).

2. See tells Edna to remember the children before she does anything irresponsible (170).

3. Edna feels uneasy when she remembers her own experiences with childbirth (170). 

XXXVIII

1. Edna is feeling guilty for her new freedom and she thinks about some of the consequences (171).

2. Robert is gone and left a note that said "Goodbye- because I love you." He left her in order to protect her future (172).

3. Edna lays on the couch in thought for the whole night (172).

Chapter XXXIX

1. Edna is at Grand Isle (172-174).

2. Victor has described Edna very nearly as a goddess (173).

3. She seems very easygoing and indifferent to everything he says (173-174).

4. She realizes that since she can't have Robert, she won't be satisfied with anyone else, not Arobin, not Leonce, and although she loves her children, they won't fill the void in her life either (175).
5. "The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace" (176).
6. When Edna takes off her clothes, it symbolizes that she is taking off any inhibitions or any mark that the world has made upon her (175).
7. Edna thinks about all of the significant things in her life and how their impact will never be enough (176).
8. No, I think the author tried to make it clear that Edna lost all strength and surrendered what was left of her life (176).


This photo represents Edna's surrender.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

[Matt Jensen]

1. The garden is a place where she can be alone, aways from the rest of the world (164).

2. Edna has a more rational plan for her and Robert's relationship (167).

 

1. She is somewhat disgusted by her memories of childbirth, remembering how painful it was (170).

2. Adele tells her to think of the children (169).

3. She feels numb to everything that is going around her (170).

 

1. She is beginning to think about how her life is effecting those around her (172).

2. Robert left her, saying he is leaving because he loves her (172). He says this because Edna should be with her husband and family, not him.

3. She spends the rest laying down on the couch, feeling bad for herself (172).

 

1. The setting is Grand Isle (173).

2. She is painted as this perfect woman, which is ironic, because she is just the opposite (173).

3. She is calm and polite, but still demanding, not asking for stuff, rather assuming it will already happen, like dinner (174).

4. She realizes she no longer wants any of them, Leonce, her children, Robert, any of them. They were all just things that antagonized her and held her back (175).

5. "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude." (175).

6. It's symbolic of a baptism, the removing of her clothes and bathing in the water is symbolic of that (175).

7. Her last thoughts are of her memories from her childhood (176).

8. Chopin leaves it up for interpretation, not explicitly saying she has died and giving her a reason to live at the end of the story, making it seem like she could have drowned or simply floated there and swam back to shore when she regained her strength (176).

 

I chose this picture because when Edna walks into the ocean at the end of the book, it is symbolic of a baptismal rebirth (175).

[Stephanie Smith]

XXXVI

1) The garden is symbolic of Edna's new life, which is more peaceful now that she is alone. 

2)Edna is more conventional than Robert when she goes to visit Adele, because rather than rebelling and staying with Robert, she does the right thing and goes to see her friend.

XXXVII

1)Edna feels unappreciated by Adele, which is disheartening for her because she left a peaceful evening with Robert to come see a women who doesn't even appreciate her presence.

2)She tells Edna to "remember the children", meaning that she should not abandon her children to follow her heart with Robert (170).

3)She feels uneasy and reminiscent of her own two deliveries.

XXXVIII

1)She takes to heart everything he said and is very thoughtful of all that's happened.

2)Edna finds that Robert has left even though she has told him to stay and wait for her. He leaves a note saying "goodbye, because i love you.", meaning that he hadto leave because she already had a family and he didn't want to ruin that.

3)Edna lays shocked on the couch because she can't possibly think of doing anything else without Robert.

XXXIV

1)Victor is working hard while Mariequita sits by and watches, and they talk about Edna's party and how beautiful she looked.

2)It is a picture of a perfect women which is ironic because in most situations, she is not.

3)She dislikes him, but not nearly as much as the diner.

4)Edna comes to realize that the wants to be with Robert rather than Leonce, but is torn over her children.

5)"The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude." (175).

6)It represents the burdens that have been weighing down Edna's soul, and when she sheds them, it represents her awakening, or transformation of her life.

7)Edna thought about all the people she loved and needed in life. 

8)Her "death" could also be considered her true "awakening" of the novel.

This picture represents the garden and the calming sensation it provided Edna. The garden is also cozy and quaint, which is why Edna enjoyed the garden.

On Thu, Dec 13, 2012 at 4:55 PM, Rachel Bumgardner <rachel.b...@nhcs.net> wrote:

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[Seth Harris]

On Sun, Dec 16, 2012 at 5:58 PM, Olivia Fisscher <olivia....@student.nhcs.net> wrote:

1. It is a symbol of peace and innocence where Edna can go dream about Robert (164).

2.  Edna says that she wants to love Robert not marry him.  She is not a possession and she is not something that can just be given away (167).

1.  It makes Edna uncomfortable because it reminds her of all of her motherly experiences that she has been trying to free herself from (170)

2.  She thinks Edna might do something reckless so she reminds her of her responsibility to her children (170)

3.  She does not want to be reminded of the responsibly she has with them as she tries to become free(170).

1.  She does not go in and she sits on the porch for a while.  She thinks about Robert before she goes to Adele's (171)

2.  Robert says goodbye because he loves her which means he does not want to dishonor her and her relationship but he still loves her (172).

3.  She does not speak she feels weak and she wants to go to bed but she doesnt want to go to bed (172).
1.  The setting is back at Grand Isle the setting of the first chapter (173)

2.  He pictures her as the woman that had all men in New Orleans on their feet.  This is ironic because she is only interested in Robert (173).

3.  She is very distant and unresponsive to Victor (173).

4.  If she can not have Robert she doesnt want anybody (175).

5.“The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander 

in abysses of solitude.” The water wraps her in a “soft, close embrace” (176).

6.  When Edna removes her clothes it symbolizes that she is completely removing all the weight the world has put on her (175)

7.  Edna thinks about the used to be important things in her life and how they were never enough (176).

8.  I think her death was actually death and showed that she took it too far and went to the extreme (176).

This represents Edna in her final stages of her life about to go to the ultimate freedom.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

Parenthetical citation + Image explanation

Chapter XXXVI

1) How is the garden in the suburbs used as a symbol?

2) In what ways is the new Edna more conventional than Robert?

Chapter XXXVII

1) What are Edna's feelings while she watches Adele prepare for the birth of her child?

2) What kind of warning does Adele try to give Edna?

3) How does Edna feel during the birth?

Chapter XXXVIII

1) What is Edna's frame of mind as she returns home after her conversation with Doctor Mandelet?

2) What news does she find from Robert? What does he mean?

3) How does Edna spend the rest of the evening?

Chapter XXXIV

1) What is the setting?

2) What picture has Victor given Edna? How is this ironic?

3) What is Edna's demeanor towards Victor?

4) What realization does Edna come to about herself, Leonce, her children, and Robert? (Mention all characters!)

5) Find the quotation that shows the seductive nature of the ocean. Post this quotation.

6) Why is the removal of her clothes symbolic? 

7) What are Edna's last thoughts? Explain.

8) Do you think her "death" is open to interpretation? Explain.  

[Alex Good]

Chapter XXXVI

1. The garden in the suburbs is used as Ednas hideaway. Where she can escape from the real world and can be by herself(164).

2.Edna is more conventional than Robert because she really and truly believes in love and believes that there is someone for everyone

Chapter XXXVII

1. Edna feels very awkward and uncomfortable with the birth of Adeles child because it brings back her memories of her childrens childbirth(169).

2. Adele tells Edna that her children should always be number one in her life(170).

3. She continued to feel uncomfortable(172).

Chapter XXXVIII

1. She decides not to think about them. She would put off all of her problems and thoughts until the next day(175).

2. Edna finds a letter written to her from Robert saying goodbye(177).

3. She spends the rest of the evening just thinking and pondering her life(178).

Chapter XXXIV

1. The setting is on Victors porch in Grande Isle(171).

2. The picture Victor gave her was of a perfect woman with a perfect life. Which is ironic because Edna is most definitely not the perfect woman(172).

3. She is more quiet than she usually is with him(172).

4. She comes to the realization that she might never truly be happy. She decides Robert with never love her like she wants him to(174).

5. "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude"(176).

6. The shedding of her old life and the start of a fresh, new one.

7. Ednas last thoughts were just of her life in a whole. She reviewed everything she has done and who she knew(175). 

8. I think it is because she died by choice. So her life must have been weighing down so much on her that she just could not take it anymore

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:55:39 PM UTC-5, Rachel Bumgardner wrote:

Parenthetical citation + Image explanation

Chapter XXXVI

1) How is the garden in the suburbs used as a symbol?

2) In what ways is the new Edna more conventional than Robert?

Chapter XXXVII

1) What are Edna's feelings while she watches Adele prepare for the birth of her child?

2) What kind of warning does Adele try to give Edna?

3) How does Edna feel during the birth?

Chapter XXXVIII

1) What is Edna's frame of mind as she returns home after her conversation with Doctor Mandelet?

2) What news does she find from Robert? What does he mean?

3) How does Edna spend the rest of the evening?

Chapter XXXIV

1 new message available

[Louis Hargrove]

Chapter XXXVI

1) How is the garden in the suburbs used as a symbol? it symbolize seperation and tranquail place.(164)

2) In what ways is the new Edna more conventional than Robert? she is more conventional by pushing more on him about being with him but robert calls her by her last name and knows how to love from a distance.

Chapter XXXVII

1) What are Edna's feelings while she watches Adele prepare for the birth of her child?edna  worries and how her birth is very serious.(181)

2) What kind of warning does Adele try to give Edna? to think of the children and remember them. she was exhasted also.(182)

3) How does Edna feel during the birth? she was stunned, dazed andspeechless.(182-183)

Chapter XXXVIII

1) What is Edna's frame of mind as she returns home after her conversation with Doctor Mandelet?Edna reflects what she has done and knows things are wong.(184-185)

2) What news does she find from Robert? What does he mean? finds the note that says good bye and he loves her. how he doesnt want to make any issues between her husband and herself.(172)

3) How does Edna spend the rest of the evening?She laid on the couch. . . just laying there stunned by roberts letter.(185)

Chapter XXXIV

1) What is the setting? Grand isle

2) What picture has Victor given Edna? How is this ironic? Victor thinks she likes to be sociable but she likes to be alone and to herself which makes it ironic.

3) What is Edna's demeanor towards Victor?That she likes to be alone and to herself(187-188) 

4) What realization does Edna come to about herself, Leonce, her children, and Robert? Edna realizes that she wants to be free, leonce and her children want to posses her and robert loves her ut he cannot be with her.(188-190)

5) Find the quotation that shows the seductive nature of the ocean. Post this quotation. "The water was deep, but she lifted her white body and reached out with a long, sweeping stroke. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in it's soft, close embrace."(189)

6) Why is the removal of her clothes symbolic? Its symbolic how she is birthed again and was her last rebirth.(189)

7) What are Edna's last thoughts? Explain. She thought about Robert's letter, her children, Leonce and how Madame Reisz thought about her and her art.(189-190)

8) Do you think her "death" is open to interpretation? Explain yes, her death is setting her free and her last rebelious act.

[Elvis PerezRamirez]

1.  It is quiet and escapes the notice of people(174).

2.  She tries to be indifferent as when she met him but she melts when she saw him(175).

1.  She is nervous and wishes she wasn't there(181).

2.  She tells her to think of the children and remember them(182).

3.  She was stunned and speechless(182).

1.  She sat outside to release her emotions(185).

2.  She finds out that he left her. He doesn't want trouble with her husband(185).

3.  She sat on her sofa and did not go to sleep(185).

1.  Victors house(187).

2.  He leaves her alone at the beach(188).

3.  She tells him she want fish for dinner(188).

4.  She doesn't care about her husband, she would never sacrifice for her children, one day she will also forget Robert(188).

5.  "The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace(189).

6.It shows her freedom(189).

7.  She thinks of Leonce and the children. They were a part of her life but they will not posses her(190).

8.  No, people can not tell why someone kills because they have never gone through their life.

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[Aisling Henihan]

Ch. XXXVI

1. The garden in the suburbs is sanctuary, a refuge for Edna. It is a place known by few and difficult to discover, much like Edna herself (163-4). She feels at peace here and encounters like-minded people (such as Robert). 

2. I think the new Edna is less conventional than Robert; she has sort of thrown over tradition and societal decency. She always refers to him by his first name (informal), she openly flirts with him, and she scorns his own conventionality (165-6).

Ch. XXXVII

1. Edna feels very uncomfortable and uneasy; she is anxious, recalling her own experiences with childbirth and the misery her children have ultimately caused her. She also feels sort of trapped by this ideal of the mother-woman; I think she pities Adele because of this (168-170).

2. Adele tries to warn Edna to "'Think of the children....Remember them!'" (170). She is reminding Edna that she is first and foremost a mother and wife, and that her duties will not just disappear if she neglects them. 

3. Edna feels panicked and uneasy; she remembers the unpleasantness of giving birth to her own children and "with an inward agony", she witnesses Adele's "torture" (170).

Ch. XXXVIII 

1. Edna is vaguely comforted after her conversation with Mandelet. He seems to understand her a little bit, and although she is still conflicted, she feels relieved (171-2). 

2. Edna finds a note from Robert that says "I love you. Good-by -- because I love you" (172). He is saying goodbye to Edna because he loves her; he wants to be with her, but he knows that the society they live in would never allow it. He doesn't want to put her or himself in a position of ridicule and rejection. He knows they would end up unhappy. I think he's also a little frightened of Edna and her awakening (the whole marriage and possession thing).

3. Edna spends the rest of the evening lying on the couch alone; she sits awake all night, thinking.

Ch. XXIV

1. The setting is Grand Isle in the spring, soon after Robert's note (172-4).

2. Victor has made Edna out to be this surreal, gorgeous goddess ("Venus"); this is ironic because she has thrown herself away from love (173). She is far from perfect and is haunted by another reality of sorts where her freedom, her awakening bring her some sort of happiness. She is isolated from her society; she has cut herself off from decency and acceptance. 

3. Edna is cordial, but removed (173-4). Her mind is obviously elsewhere.

4. Edna comes to the realization that basically, she can never be happy. She wants too much. "There was no one thing in the world she desired" (175). Her husband, Leonce, is irrelevant; she could live without him, but the institution of marriage can never really allow her to claim her freedom with any sort of social respect. Her children are really important; she can't stigmatize them ("...but Raoul and Etienne! She understood now clearly what she had meant long ago when she said to Adele Ratignolle that she would give up the unessential, but she would never sacrifice herself for her children" (175)). She can never escape from that; she will always be bound. She also realizes that "There was no human being whom she wanted near her except Robert; and she even realized that the day would come when he too and the thought of him would melt out of her existence, leaving her alone" (175). Realizing how alone she is, how she can never be happy, she is really depressed.

5. "The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude" (175). "The touch of the see is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace" (176). 

6. The removal of her clothes is symbolic because she is truly exposed: "She felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world that it had never known" (175). She is totally natural and free. 

7. Edna's last thoughts include memories of the night she first swam, flashbacks from her childhood, thoughts of Leonce and her children, of Mademoiselle Reisz and the "courageous soul", and of Robert and Dr. Mandelet, how she was never understood, and it was all too late. Her true last thoughts are basically "life flashing before your eyes moments" from her childhood (176). I guess she was trying to explain herself to herself, to understand.

8. I think her death is pretty definitive; she almost certainly drowned. Although it is not exactly stated, all the events in the last chapter build up to this moment. Honestly, it had to end like that. Edna was never going to be satisfied. And there was always the question of what she was going to do when Leonce came back; she could never have gone back to him, but there was no way he would've let her live on her own. And her kids too -- what was she going to do about them? I think death was her only option. It was a pretty conclusive end too, the tragic consequences of too much freedom taken too far...In her mind, she won. She did not surrender; she outsmarted all the men in her life, escaped from her duties. I also thought it was interesting how she left things so that it didn't look like suicide (esp. situation with Victor; she told him she was coming back for lunch, etc.); this left the acceptance of her death up to each party to decide as they might. 

http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2011/12/Holiday_Gifts/newborn-baby-boy-sleeping.jpg

Adele's labor was another moment that helped Edna realize what she wanted out of life and how impossible it really was. It reminded her of her children and her duties as a mother-woman. She could never escape those duties in life. In a way, it contributed to the lostness, the "despondency" that led her to commit suicide.