The Not Cop Out

In today’s society, people view suicide as the only way to escape reality, the only way to leave all the problems behind and move to a new world. In fact, that is what it is- a way to leave the real world and all the troubles that comes with it. The world today also sees this way of leaving as a “cop out” because it is not a way to solve a problem head on. It is just running away and only a coward runs away from a challenge or a dilemma. However, in the case of The Awakening, is Edna really portrayed as a “coward?” She steals the readers’ hearts when she fights for what she truly believes in. Is that something a coward does; defending for what she believes in? The answer is no. In fact, a person would probably call that a heroic sacrifice. Edna’s suicide is not a normal one to escape problems; it is a symbolic gesture that involves her saving what is left of her. In the middle of the novel, Edna declares to Adele, “I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself” (97). Edna is implying that she would sacrifice her life to save her children, however, the thought of giving up her “soul” is too much for her. It would be changing herself and not only is that unfair to her, but also to her children because they would not be getting who their mother really is on the inside. It is like changing one’s personality, no one wants that because they would not be getting that person, it would just be an illusion. Edna’s suicide is a way for her to keep her soul. If she did not kill herself, she would probably go back to Leonce and live like nothing happened with Robert. Would this “going back to normal” really be what Edna desired? She would have to go back to being the obedient wife and that is clearly not what she wants to be. She tried breaking free and it didn’t work for her. Her “wings” were not strong enough to push her forward. Ms. Ponteiller was already out of the bird cage, but she was still not free. How could she possibly continue with her life when she could not escape the clutches of the everyday routine? She would be living a lie and she could not live if that is what she had to do. She cannot pretend to be something she was not; this is what she meant when she said she could not sacrifice herself. By killing herself, she was able to keep herself. She realized this is the only way to do so.

This suicide was not a cop out, but a moment of self realization for her because “she understood now clearly what she had meant long ago when she said to Adele Ratignolle when she would give up the unessential, but she would never sacrifice herself for her children” (175). She knows that she must take this action in order to save herself. Edna may be afraid of dying, but she recognizes that it is a necessary action if she wants to remain herself. This brave woman even mentions to the doctor “perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one’s life” (171). It is far better to accept the reality and truth than to live a lie for the rest of one’s life and that is exactly what Edna’s suicide represents; facing the truth and dealing with it.

-Kathleen :)