For a long time, the thought of marriage being equated with romance was a dream to her. In the depths of her subconscious, Edna truly wanted to experience love, romance, and the fireworks associated with it.
Chapter ten details a pivotal event in Edna's life in which she learns to swim, a metaphor for her awakening. This is the first time that Mrs. Pontellier truly feels independent and confident in herself. She is attempting to break away from the patterns and restraints of society. While swimming, Edna grows tired, experiences sudden terror and realizes that she must turn back. Her fear represents how difficult the journey to personal self- fulfillment will be and her need to turn around is a metaphor for her oppression. No matter how hard she tries to overcome society, she will always be pulled back. Nevertheless, Edna is determined to fight for her autonomy.
Edna shows her first moment of defiance in chapter eleven while sitting outside on the porch when her husband asks her to come inside from the cold. Under normal circumstances, Edna would have obeyed her husband and went inside. This time, however, Edna expressed to Mr. Pontellier that she was going to stay outside despite his wishes otherwise. Again in chapter seventeen, Edna rebels against her husband. She refuses to merely be one of her husband's possessions or a puppet that he could control. After an argument with Leonce, Edna throws a tantrum in which she throws a vase from a table and stomps on her wedding ring. She is trapped in her marriage and wants to break out. The maid picks her ring up and gives it back to Edna which reminds her of her place as a wife. .
Edna discovers a new way to escape from her societal role and redefine herself: painting. Edna decides to move out of the house into the "pigeon house" where she can have her own space and claim her independence. In done so, Edna is beginning to seem and act more like Mademoiselle Reisz whom is a social outcast because she defied to norms of society as well.
