After reading the first half of "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, I think I am going to write my research essay on the development of the main character, Edna Pontellier. In the very beginning of the book, the reader forms impressions of Edna through the eyes of her husband. This view gave me the impression that she was, more or less, one of her husband's possessions. A clear identity didn't come through until later in the book, when she started to realize she was unhappy in the marriage.
The author describes Edna's life as "dulled, like a faded garment which seems to be no longer worth wearing." Edna begins to escape the hold her husband has over her when she learns to swim. She gains courage and self-confidence once she masters this skill. Leonce Pontellier tells his wife that she was not far from him and that she was never in any real danger, however, the thought of dying that forced her to swim gave Edna a new perspective on life. She realized that she could be a woman independent of her husband.
When Edna encounters Robert, she is reminded of her youth and the burdens which her marriage presents her. The reader can tell that there is some sort of chemistry between the two, but they can't be sure of what it is. However, when Robert leaves for Mexico, Edna~'s mood definitely changes. She would spend the majority of her time in a "diversion which afforded her the only pleasurable moments she knew." Edna now swims frequently because in the sea she feels freedom and solitude.