outlook on life. In Alcee Arobin, Edna tests her newfound freedom by stepping outside the boundaries of marriage. Arobin's flattering comments and obedience to her make Edna feel in control of the relationship. Her relations with Arobin in the exciting city lifestyle of New Orleans prepare Edna for Robert's eventual return. Symbolism is a common element in explaining Edna's emotions at both Grand Isle and New Orleans. Many of the symbols found in the tropical setting are repeated in Edna's vastly different life in the city. One recurring image that is described both in Grand Isle and in New Orleans is that of gambling. Previously, Edna had associated this recreation with men and their clubs. However, following her transformation, "the fever of the game...got into her blood and into her brain like an intoxicant" (124). As Edna continues to separate herself from the traditional roles of women in her time, Chopin distinguishes the main character from those around her through the use of symbolism. At her dinner party, Edna reigns as the confident, self-assured hostess, described by the author as a jeweled goddess emerging from the sea. "Venus rising from the foam could have presented no more entrancing a spectacle than Mrs. Pontellier, blazing with beauty and diamonds at the head of the board" (186).Kate Chopin's utilization of the setting in The Awakening is essential to the character development of Edna as she escapes the restrictions of Creole society to become an independent woman. Symbols and images are mirrored and intertwined in the two settings. This repetitive pattern underscores and expands the readers understanding of Edna's enlightenment. But in fact, the most dramatic change in the novel occurs during the transition from Grand Isle to New Orleans. In this story, Chopin's use of setting proves to be an effective complement to her vivid imagery throughout the novel, and to the symbolism of renewal and rediscovery....
