II. Natural Factors in Edna’s Awakening

2.1 The Natural Environment of the Grand Isle

In the transcendentalist theory, Edna's soul and body were respectively belonging to soul and nature. In the process of her awakening, she turned from the unconscious into the combination of the unconscious and initiative. In the process of awakening, Edna always vacillated between society and nature. She was driven by an unknown impulse to obtain energy and vitality from nature. In Grand Island, sea, birds and islands played an important role in Edna's awakening.

 The story began in Grand Isle, Edna spent her holiday with her children, husband there. There was a gulf at the edge of the island, it led to the sea, and the wave of the sea liked the call of freedom, and woke up Edna’s love in her deep heart. In the bud of love, Edna recalled the freedom of childhood, “Oh, and the wind’s warmth reminded me, for some reason, of a time when I was young and walking through an area of tall grass in Kentucky. The grass was so high it came up to my chest. It was like being in water, actually. I felt that I want almost swimming in the grass!”(44; Ch. 7) The grass compared to the sea, it suggested Edna's desire for freedom, and also indicated that she was in the pursuit of happiness. On the island, Edna began to feel a vague impulse, but not sure what was it. During the happy time when Edna stayed with Robert, a ray of light began to shine in her bitter heart. she started to realize that she was a person in the universe. Then, she heard the voice of the sea which was so charming. At the end of the story, physically and mentally exhausted Edna returned to the island and came to the sea, she chose to embrace the sea, in this sense, Edna was reborn in death, so at the last moment, she seemed to return to the childhood again.

 "Birds" was another central symbol in The Awakening, it was a symbol of freedom and unfreedom of Edna, it was the embodiment of Edna. Before awakening, Edna was a caged bird. The word “cage” appeared in the first sentence of the novel. At the door of the holiday villa there were two cages, they closed a parrot and a mocking-bird respectively. "The cage" symbolized all the family and social factors that shackled Edna. If Edna didn’t fall in love with Robert, Edna may be content with the life without self like other women. However, love changed everything, the things once taken for granted suddenly become intolerability, just like suddenly she woke up from a coma, when you woke up, you didn’t want to return to the dreary dream.

 Island was far away from the noisy city, and it provided physical leisure place for people. The important plots in first sixteen chapters were set on Grand Island. But the island was not completely independent of the city, it was a microcosm of city life. In addition to the existence of male dominance, there had romantic and beautiful scenery, these were irresistible for Edna. Grand Island was a romantic background for Edna’s awakening. On the island, she realized her own independence, she met her true love, and made friends with Ms.Reisz and Adele, they played an important role in Edna’s awakening.

2.2 The Natural Environment of the New Orleans

 After returning to the city, the garden was a relatively independent and closed place, provided free space and fresh air for Edna. When Edna quarreled with her husband, the garden can calm her down. The garden was her own private area, she enjoyed the beautiful flowers in a sunny afternoon. After she met with Robert who just returned from Mexico in Ms.Reisz’s home, the garden was the place that they met again. The garden was the shrinkage of the natural scene, it provided fresh air for Edna