In Kate Chopin's The Awakening and "The Dream of an Hour", she uses symbolism to show women defying society. However, these women were still looked down upon because they believed in what they were doing. ... Both the awakenings of Edna or Louise begin after they realize they could be free of the burden of their husbands. ... Pontellier ends her life in the sea, a space of infinite potential that becomes a blank and persistent void, carrying both a promise and a threat. ... This could mean two things; it could mean that she dies because she is so happy to see him that she can't ...

• Word Count: 1547
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School