Thus， in the analysis above， I present the two stages that Edna Pontellier undergoes in awakening to her individual self. In the first stage， Edna is searching aimlessly， driven by her inner desire and impulsive force for her individual being， or， say， the definition of self and independence by daring and defying the world around her， which she succeeds in. The second stage mainly involves Edna's re-locating her newly-found individuality in the universe， by adjusting her relations with her surroundings and discovering the nature of real freedom and independence， and what's more， the nature of solitude as the awakened being. We may review Edna's whole process of awakening by looking at her first experience of leaming to swim： she is presumably afraid of swimming， dares not challenge the "ungovemable dread hung about her when in the water， unless there was a hand nearby that might reach out and reassure her" （ Chopin， 36）. （That is most probably the state Edna is in before her awakening， for she is so dependent on other's rescue at that time. ） But at that night， being not able to resist the seductive sea， and under Robert's persistent instruction， Edna "grows daring". She tries bravely for the first time， and soon "realizes its powers". She is overtaken by "a felling of exultation"， claiming to herself "How easy it is!"， "It's nothing". Then "she wanted to swim far out， where no woman had swum before"; "She swam out， alone" （Chopin， 36）. This depiction is the most similar experience with Edna's first-stage awakening. With newly conquered power of self-searching， Edna realizes herself as an individual in the universe. But the later experience is not so pleasing. Edna over-estimates her strength， and she is too ambitious to go far.
When she "tums her face seaward"， she suddenly finds out that it is "space" and "solitude" in the vast expanse of water that is waiting for her， in which she might "lose herself" to the unlimited. And turning towards the shore， she finds people who she has left there are waiting and searching. Edna realizes her solitary position in the universe between the infinite searching and the unawakened beings.
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