Edna committed suicide because she would rather sacrifice her life than her individuality. Although Edna's awakening appears to be the epitome of self-realization, in actuality, she is a depressed woman illustrating the views of society's standards of women. In Kate Chopin's novel The Awakening, individuality and independence play an important role in the development of Edna and the changes in her life. To a woman seeking independence, being brave, being daring, and being defiant are the elements of what it takes to be an individual, even at the cost of sacrifice. As Edna walked into the sea and swam, her life flashed in front of her. "She went on and on. She remembered the night she swam far out, and recalled the terror that seized her at the fear of being unable to regain the shore. She did not look back now, but went on and on, thinking of the blue-grass meadow that she had traversed when a little child, believing that it had no being and no end."" (pg. 176) Edna decided to commit suicide because of the impossibility of being with Robert, the passion to get away from being a possession, and the depression that built up inside her, and. Throughout The Awakening, Edna's trouble with love, identity, and living up to society's expectations pushes her away from her life and what she loves. Therefore, it is Edna's willingness to sacrifice her life rather than her individuality that influences her to act decisively in the ultimate moments of emotional turmoil. .
Although Edna and Robert came closer and closer together, their love was a forbidden one therefore, it could not end up in anything but disaster. Edna and Robert met at the Grand Isle summer resort where Robert would spend his time attending to the women's needs. He had a strong influence on Edna, one that greatly impacts her life. Robert's influence on Edna pushes her to try swimming; she had been trying to swim since she was young but was never able to do it.
