The article I chose to analyze for The Awakening was focused on the effect of painting, music, and the arts on Edna and how they are related to her “awakening”. A majority of the article, which I found myself agreeing with, was rather how the arts failed to help or save Edna, in the aspect of saving her life from the social restrictions of the time and herself.
Author Roberta White notes that it’s odd that the readers should naturally think that painting and music would save Edna, giving her an outlet for the things that she couldn’t express, but it does the opposite. There are several ways that Edna fails as an artist, which ultimately lead to her downfall. But before that part of the analysis is mentioned, White makes an ingenious point. Kate Chopin actually incorporates the visual arts into her literature, almost making up for the lack of art in Edna’s life in the story. The vivid descriptions and sensuous language used, especially when talking about the sea (which ties in wonderfully) create a whole new dimension of art for the readers. A very moving line from the article even reads “her suicide seems fated by the language”.
When it comes to Edna herself as an artist, she ultimately is responsible for her own “failure”. Living in New Orleans, there were so many real-life thing that she could have drawn or painted to express herself. By choosing to visually ignore the life around her, she missed out on so much. Relating back to the first point mentioned by Roberta White, the art of the novel itself is superior to the art created in the novel. A major downfall is that her passion and romantic ways distract from her painting rather than contributing to it. She should have harnessed the emotion she had to channel it into something good, but instead it weighed on her.
The arts had much to do with the shaping of the novel The Awakening, in the story line and the actual writing itself. In Edna’s case, the arts failed to save her in her most desperate time of need. Since it was noted that her romantic excursions distracted her from her painting, it is interesting that in the article it also said that Edna liked to get away to the sea with Robert and Arobin because it took her away from her obligations as a mother and to the Victorian social rules, if only for a moment. So though she enjoyed it, the arts is what eventually caused her to commit suicide.
Dear Laura,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the topic that you picked. I personally thought that exploring "The Awakening" through the art forms used inside of it would be a very boring, obvious critical lens, but this small portion of your review sways my opinion. Quoting your review; "Kate Chopin actually incorporates the visual arts into her literature, almost making up for the lack of art in Edna’s life in the story. The vivid descriptions and sensuous language used, especially when talking about the sea (which ties in wonderfully) create a whole new dimension of art for the readers." Honestly, I never even thought to read "The Awakening" in that way. I agree that Edna should have used her passion to drive her art form, rather than letting it distract her from being productive.
As I have read what you believe the art in "The Awakening" added to the novel, I wonder what you think the music added to the novel? Which is more of a driving force; the music or the art?
I love the words that you used to describe how the book is written. I think that the essay you read sounds extremly interesting, especially the point abou the book being more artistic than the art created in the book. I enjoyed the way you represented the article and discussed a part of the book that I found really important. I thought it was intriguing how your article discussed the importance of art and I found it refreshing that the author of your essay didn't just pity Edna. A point that piqued my interest the most is how you talked about the fact that Edna should have had an outlet in art, but instead she ignored it like everything else in her life. Nice blog laura!
ReplyDeleteYour article was my second choice next to the one I chose, so I am glad I had the opportunity to read about it. I very much believe that Edna saw her art as a way to channel her physical energy, but it was ultimately a failed outlet. While reading, it felt painful whenever Edna was painting a still life or a stiff portrait. I just wanted her to be free about it, make an abstract, and translate her emotions onto the canvas. Also, I think it is important to note the difference between the paintings that Edna makes and the music that Adele plays. Although both are forms of art, they are different because of the reasons they are made.
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