en though Edna's actions were very selfish in The Awakening, Chopin used her to show other women that they don't have to live by society's standards. She encouraged women to discover and explore their own independence and sexuality. Also, Chopin shows the effect that society can have on a woman. While some may be able to handle the pressure, others, such as Edna, cannot. This was evident by her suicide. "Consequently, this ending diminishes Edna's stature and perforce reduces the significance of her rebellion" (Conn 165). Although her suicide defeated the purpose of her awakening, which was to be free, Edna was still successful in showing that women do not want to be restricted by the roles that society has placed on them....
