Restrictions of Society in The Awakening Essay -- Kate Chopin

Edna Pontellier’s Struggle for Freedom in The Awakening by Kate Chopin In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, the constant boundaries and restrictions placed on Edna Pontellier by society will lead to her struggle for freedom and her ultimate suicide. Her husband Leonce Pontellier, the current women of society, and the Grand Isle make it evident that Edna is trapped in a patriarchal society. Despite these people, Edna has a need to be free and she is able to escape from the society that she despises. The sea, Robert Lebrun, and Mademoiselle Reisz serve as Edna’s outlets from conformity. â€Å"Edna's journey for personal independence involves finding the words to express herself. She commits suicide rather than sacrificing her independent, individual existence as social conventions demand of her† (Ewell 153). There are constant boundaries and restrictions imposed on Edna Pontellier that initiate Edna’s struggle for freedom. Edna is a young Creole wife and mother in a high-class society. The novel unfolds the life of a woman who feels dissatisfied and restrained by the expectations of society. Leonce Pontellier, her husband is declared â€Å"†¦the best husband in the world† (Chopin 6). Edna is forced to admit that she knew of none better. Edna married Leonce because he courted her earnestly and her father was opposed to her marriage to a Catholic. â€Å"Edna felt that her marriage would anchor her to the conventional standards of society and end her infatuation† (Skaggs 30). She is fond of Leonce, but he does not incite passionate feelings. Edna represents women in the past that were suppressed. These women weren't allowed to give their opinions and were often seen as objects, which explains the way her husband never really saw Edna as his wife, but more as a mate rial possession. â€Å"You are burnt beyond recognition, he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered great damage† (Chopin 2). In this society, men viewed their wives as an object, and she receives only the same respect as a possession. Edna did not respect her husband as the other women did. While he talked to her, Edna was overcome with sleep and answered him with little half utterances. â€Å"Leonce thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so litt... ...e interest of ending the monotony she lives with as a result of her being confined into her aristocratic society. Throughout the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Edna seeks independence from society. Her series of awakenings are mostly about achieving this goal. The sea, Robert Lebrun, and Mademoiselle Reisz are her awakenings. In the end, Edna's freedom takes place in death. This is the choice that social convention allows her. Edna cannot have anything she desires in this world, and therefore removed herself from it in a final â€Å"awakening† of her soul. Her thoughts as she walks into the sea comment profoundly on the identity problems that women face: "She thought of Leonce and the children. They were a part of her life. But they need not have thought that they could possess her, body and soul" (Chopin 152). Works Cited Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Bantam Books, 1992. Dyer, Joyce. â€Å"Symbolism and Imagery in The Awakening†. Unveiling Kate Chopin. Ed. Emily Toth. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. 126-130. Ewell, Barbara C. Kate Chopin. New York: The Ungar Publishing Company, 1986. Skaggs, Peggy. Kate Chopin. Boston: Twane Publishers, 1985.

Beijing bicycle

Juxtaposition is used to frame the main ideas in Xiaoshuai's Beijing Bicycle meaning the bicycle of a seven teen year old, was its original name in Chinese when it was titled â€Å"Beijing Bicycle† later. Juxtaposition is being used by Xiahoshuai to make the audience recognize the main idea's of this film. The main ideas of this film was conflict between Urban and Rural culture, clash of traditional with the contemporary, and how China is beginning to develop into a modern society. Guei and Jian are characters in this film and are used to represent conflicts between rban and rural culture.Background scenes are also used to contrast modern and old China and how it is being changed. Chinese ancient alley ways are seen in many parts of the movie. Because these alley ways have been there for a long time, it is considered as an ancient pathway. The houses which can also be seen are built in the old time and the architecture is old fashioned. Construction sites can also be seen at t he start of the movie, down below we can see the ancient alley ways and cars passing by. This shows how China is beginning to change into a new country where everything is developed.Ancient alley ways can also symbolize how China is turning into a developed country, since these designs are starting to disappear. When Guei and Jian are running away they run through these ancient alley ways and meet up each time, this proves how ancient alley ways might be overwhelmed by the modernization of China and disappearing slowly. Guei comes from the country side and Jian is from the city. 2 characters with totally different cultural background are being used to contrast urban and rural life. However they both have one thing in common, which is the importance of the bike to them.To Guei the bicycle represents his lively hood and his Job; he protects the bike with all his strength. The bicycle symbolizes pride, status to Jian; he hides the bike because he may feel guilt and does not want to sho w it. Guei as a country boy is amazed at the view of Beijing; however he gets bullied by Jian's friends and cannot protect himself or the bicycle. His characteristics changed at the last scene where he used the rock to hit the person who was wrecking his bike, like Jian hit his ex-girlfriends new boyfriend. This may symbolize how Guei is slowly adapting to the city.Jian is a dynamic character in this film; at the beginning he seems ignorant and when his bicycle was stolen his friends always backed him up. However as the story progresses we can see some change happening when he introduces himself go Guei. At the end scene when they were being chased, Jian tells Guei to get away from him and when they both reach at a dead end â€Å"Get out of here† Jian says that to Guei because he doesn't want to get him in trouble. This symbolizes friendship and Jian's character development because he is trying to protect Guei and doesn't want him to get beaten.This may portray how China is c hanging into a different country where it cares about its surroundings, Just like Jian's character develops into a person who can fght for himself and cares about Guei. Xiaoshuai's main idea of the film was to show how China is beginning to develop into a modern city and becoming more independent. His use of Juxtaposition China and how traditional China is moving towards modern China. As China is becoming developed so as the people in China no matter where that person is from he/she is participating in this huge change.

The Prevalence Of Mental Illness - 1348 Words

Mental illness is increasingly being recognized as a challenge faced by many Canadians. The Mental Health Strategy for Canada estimates that ‘in any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health problem or illness’. (Bartram et al., 2012) The prevalence of mental illness is not exclusive to the Canadian population and it is estimated that these figures are rising. In 2004, the World Health Organization ranked major depression as third in terms of the overall burden of diseases in the world, (measured by Disability-Adjusted Life Years) and it is predicted to rise to second by 2030. (Langlois et al., 2011) One of the greatest concerns is that many in need of mental health services are not receiving treatment. Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the onset of mental illness and gender differences are evident in terms of prevalence and causation. Gender specific mental health services should be incorporated into the Canadian school system to promote mental health among adolescents, identify those who require individualized services and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. The Mental Health Commission of Canada estimates ‘up to 70% of young adults living with mental health problems report that the symptoms started in childhood.’ (Bartram et al., 2012) In a study that investigated the incidence and prevalence of depression among adolescents, it was determined that ‘by age 21, the lifetime prevalence of at least one episode of depression wasShow MoreRelatedThe Prevalence Of Mental Illness1182 Words   |  5 Pagesbomber in warfare. This phrase could also be applied to mental illness, as many illnesses such as anorexia have frighteningly high mortality rates but often go undetected or undiagnosed for extended periods of time. 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