The Awakening: Imagery 7 key examples

When describing Adèle, the narrator makes specific observations about her physical appearance, particularly in reference to her beauty. The inclusion of vivid details—the color of Adéle’s hair, eyes and lips—and comparison to fruit emphasizes Adèle’s beauty and desirability. It is as if Adèle is an object meant for consumption or pleasure. In many ways, Adèle exemplifies the Victorian feminine ideal. Motherly and wifely, she is Edna’s opposite, both physically and in personality. 

The image of a man standing vulnerable and alone reflects the sense of isolation and waywardness Edna feels as her self-understanding begins to deepen. The process of this self-awareness is part of her “awakening.” After years of stifling her inner life and behaving only according to social rules, Edna begins to reflect on her inner experience, desires, and emotions. Consequently, she—like Mademoiselle Reisz—ignores social conventions and doesn't conform to societal norms. Women like Edna and Mademoiselle were expected to conform to Victorian ideals of femininity and motherhood and meant to find fulfillment in childrearing and maintaining a household. Edna, and the novel at large, questions these restrictive social conventions. Moreover, the bleak image of the man alone foreshadows the moment at the end of the novel when Edna removes her swimsuit on the shores of the Gulf, also naked and alone.

The narrator provides specific auditory and visual imagery to capture the romance between the two lovers. Details about the weather and environment—the heat of the night as a “hot breath” and the sound of bird wings flapping, for example—appeal to the reader’s sense of sight, touch, and smell. Moreover, the image of "the faces of the lovers [...] rapt in oblivious forgetfulness" vividly conveys the close connection between the story's main characters. These rich descriptions make it clear that Edna is invested in the story, likely because she longs for the same sort of passionate relationship that it describes. The imagery allows the reader to imagine and even feel the lovers' romance, as if they are experiencing it themselves.

The novel uses specific imagery to present multiple ideas to the reader. The visual of the lovers "creeping" along, followed by the lady in black "gaining steadily upon them" reads as ominous. These three figures function as symbols: the pair of lovers standing together represent the happiness of romance and young love, while the lady in black, a mysterious widow, symbolize death and misfortune that will inevitably befall them. More specifically, the lady in black's presence behind the lovers foreshadows Edna and Robert’s own unfulfilled romance, as well as Edna’s death at the end of the novel. 

The narrator includes details about the quality of light and colors to highlight the party’s extravagance: the silver, gold, glittering crystal, and gems all convey wealth and luxury. Moreover, the softness of the burning candle and presence of lush, vibrant roses create a sense of beauty and romance. All in all, the elegance of the party reflects Edna's romantic worldview: as she grows more and more independent, Edna becomes increasingly driven by her inner life and emotions rather than practical concerns or societal expectations.

Vivid details about Edna’s clothing and appearance—the make and color of her gown—emphasize her individuality as well as her beauty. Her dress "shimmer[s]" and looks like "vibrant flesh," which portrays Edna as striking, lively, and magnetic. The imagery also paints Edna like royalty, as if she is a queen: her status is that of someone high above and separate from the crowd, one who “stands alone.” This is the physical evidence of Edna’s awakening, after Edna becomes aware of her inner experience and “her position in the universe as a human being.” This inner experience contrasts with what society expects of her as a woman: to be her husband's possession, a convention she boldly rejects.

The passage has a nostalgic, romantic quality, as well as a vivid sense of sound, touch and smell. The color pink is sensuous and romantic, while “musty” suggests death, rot, or decay. In this way, the passage is a disorienting mix of life and death, reflecting Edna's own mindset and experiences in this moment. The imagery, in general, is associative, with no clear logic linking each image. Edna recalls being enamored with the “sad-eyed cavalry officer,” a memory she shares with Adéle Ratignolle earlier in the novel. Through this imagery, the novel suggests Edna returns to the innocent bliss of childhood when she dies and is perhaps finally truly free.