The Beasts and Monsters in Dantes Inferno Essay example -- Divine Com

The Inferno is the first section of Dante's three-part poem, The Divine Comedy. Throughout Dante's epic journey into the depths of Inferno he encounters thirty monsters and five hybrid creatures.   The most significant of these monsters are of central importance to his journey and to the narrative, as they not only challenge Dante's presence in Inferno, but are custodians of Hell, keeping in order or guarding the "perduta gente".   In this essay I am concentrating on these prominent beasts, namely Minos, Cerberus, Plutus and Geryon, establishing why they feature in Dante's eschatological vision and discussing the sources which influenced his inclusion of these particular creatures. These four monsters all fulfil important functions as well as representing important themes in Inferno, establishing them as symbols which reinforce Dante's allegory. Minos, as the infernal judge and agent of God's justice, represents our own conscience and morality.   When the sinners come before him "tutta si confessa", which causes the reader to reflect on their own sins.His terrifying treatment of the souls is significant as after Charon, he is one of the first figures who they encounter on their passage into Hell, and his unique method of demonstrating which area of Hell that the souls should be sent to increases the horror and adds to the alarming atmosphere. His warning to Dante, is similar to several of the infernal custodians, who continually remind him that he should not be in the Otherworld, tu che vieni al doloroso ospizio, guarda com'entri e di cui tu ti fide non t'inganni l'ampiezza de l'intrare (1) However, Cerberus's reaction to Dante is one of obvious malice and vice, and rather than comment on his presence he... ...s Minos's warning to Dante and his unusual illustration of how the sinners are judged.   The monsters also form strategic narrative devices, as their confrontations with Dante and Virgil continue the pattern of incident and movement in the text, adding variety and tension. The beasts form an inherent and essential part of the narrative because of the excitement and terror that they add to Dante and Virgil's journey, as well as reinforcing Dante's classification of sin.   They also illustrate the traditional motifs of Otherworld visions, whilst simultaneously expanding and developing previous representations of the afterlife in order to form original and exciting creations.   This shows the importance Dante placed on the inclusion of these beasts as they not only express the influence of other works on Inferno, but also his own spectacular creativity and fantasy.

Observation paper Essay

The Child’s name I have chosen for this observation paper is a 5 year old female named Janiya, she seems to be a happy normal child. Her mother and father are of African American descent. Her mother and father are married yet separated. Janiya lives home with her mom and aunt, her mom keeps her toys inside her room where Janiya regularly accesses her bedroom and bring toys in and out as she pleases, as well as plays inside her room when she wants. Her toys consist of a bike, baby dolls, Barbie dolls, tablet, computer, and PlayStation 4. These are the toys Janiya plays with everyday according to her mom. Observation Janiya is a very bright little girl with a huge personality she loves attention and loves to watch cartoons and play with her toys. The observations I made were in the living room, kitchen and her bedroom and observed her for 30 minutes. Janiya is a very creative little girl adapting to her surroundings and nothing was never too high for her because she climbed on top of furniture when she wanted to reach things that was too high for her I seen Janiya climb on top a chair to get some chips out of the cabinet she used her physical strength to pull her weight up until she was able to reach them. I was amazed at how smart she was when it came to thinking of a way to get things she wanted instead of asking for assistance anything she needs access to and is too high for her to reach she climbs on furniture to reach it or asks her mom or aunt to get it if she couldn’t according to her mom, Janiya is displaying her gross motor skills. She then came in the living room and proceeded to change the channel to Nick Jr. and Sponge Bob Square pants was on and Janiya started singing the theme song standing up in the chair dancing and singing showing off her cognitive and functional play skills trying to do what she sees on tv and also displaying her language development. Janiya’s mom then walked from her bed room in the living room explaining to Janiya that she has to help her with her homework  before she watches cartoons so she needs to go to her bedroom to retrieve her book bag Janiya is in the kindergarten. Janiya runs in her room to get her book bag and quickly came back into the living room with it displaying her gross motor skills again. Her mom pulls out her homework which consists of writing her first name 10 times and writing her last name 10 times she gives Janiya verbal cues on writing her name writing Janiya write and telling her which letter to write next she is encoding this information inside Janiya’s memory and she will eventually have this information in her long term memory and will be able to write her name without verbal cues in the future right now she is now processing information and developing her memory. After doing her homework Janiya went in her room and bought out her dolls and begin playing with herself in the living room displaying dramatic play I heard her talking to her dolls and pretending that was her baby. This was the end of my 30 minute observation; Janiya seems as if she is coming along well with displaying skills, language, playing and her imag ination. She was really a bright little girl and I enjoyed observing her and seeing the changes children go through to develop most of their skills that are going to be used every day when they get older! Observation Paper: Janiya Psychology 221 Michelle Bennett The Child’s name I have chosen for this observation paper is a 5 year old female named Janiya, she seems to be a happy normal child. Her mother and father are of African American descent. Her mother and father are married yet separated. Janiya lives home with her mom and aunt, her mom keeps her toys inside her room where Janiya regularly accesses her bedroom and bring toys in and out as she pleases, as well as plays inside her room when she wants. Her toys consist of a bike, baby dolls, Barbie dolls, tablet, computer, and PlayStation 4. These are the toys Janiya plays with everyday according to her mom. Observation Janiya is a very bright little girl with a huge personality she loves attention and loves to watch cartoons and play with her toys. The observations I made were in the living room, kitchen and her bedroom and observed her for 30 minutes. Janiya is a very creative little girl adapting to her surroundings and nothing was never too high for her because she climbed on top of furniture when she wanted to reach things that was too high for her I seen Janiya climb on top a chair to get some chips out of the cabinet she used her physical strength to pull her weight up until she was able to reach them. I was amazed at how smart she was when it came to thinking of a way to get things she wanted instead of asking for assistance anything she needs access to and is too high for her to reach she climbs on furniture to reach it or asks her mom or aunt to get it if she couldn’t according to her mom, Janiya is displaying her gross motor skills. She then came in the living room and proceeded to change the channel to Nick Jr. and Sponge Bob Square pants was on and Janiya started singing the theme song standing up in the chair dancing and singing showing off her cognitive and functional play skills trying to do what she sees on tv and also displaying her language development. Janiya’s mom then walked from her bed room in the living room explaining to Janiya that she has to help her with her homework before she watches cartoons so she needs to go to her bedroom to retrieve her book bag Janiya is in the kindergarten. Janiya runs in her room to get her book bag and quickly came back into the living room with it displaying her gross motor skills again. Her mom pulls out her homework which consists of writing her first name 10 times and writing her last name 10 times she gives Janiya verbal cues on writing her name writing Janiya write and telling her which letter to write next she is encoding this information inside Janiya’s memory and she will eventually have this information in her long term memory and will be able to write her name without verbal cues in the future right now she is now processing information and developing her memory. After doing her homework Janiya went in her room and bought out her dolls and begin playing with herself in t he living room displaying dramatic play I heard her talking to her dolls and pretending that was her baby. This was the end of my 30 minute observation; Janiya seems as if she is coming along well with displaying skills, language, playing and her imagination. She was really a bright little girl and I enjoyed observing her and seeing the changes children go through to develop most of their skills that are  going to be used every day when they get older!

Safilo Group A Limited Liability Company Registered

Safilo Group is a limited liability company registered in Italy. The registered office is located in Pieve di Cadore, whereas the administrative headquarters are located in Padua at offices of the secondary Safilo Spa. Safilo Group has been in the eyewear market for eighty years and is the second worldwide producer of sunglasses and prescription frames. Safilo is active in the design, manufacture and wholesale and retail distribution of eyewear products. Safilo is the global leader in the high-end eyewear segment of the market and also one of the top three sports eyewear producers and distributors worldwide. Safilo is vertically integrated, which means they design, produce and distribute their entire product assortment. Safilo’s distribution is through many markets such as Canada, SLA, Europe, and 3O market, both specialized outlets and retail distribution chains. Safilo takes pride in their production-distribution chain which consist of these phases: research and technological innovation, design and product development, planning, programming and purchasing, production, quality control, marketing and communication, sales, distribution and logistics. Safilo has a strong team that is focused on the development and design of their products; this is on of the company’s key strengths. Their team of designers guarantees constant technical and stylistic innovation. Safilo has both licensed and house brands; this helps Safilo have a clear separation strategy of customers. Since

Women of the Harlem Renaissance Writers and Artists

Below are women who played key roles in the Harlem Renaissance -- some are well-known, and some have been neglected or forgotten. Follow links to biographies and other content where available. Related: History of Women of the Harlem Renaissance: Dreaming in Color and Timeline: African American History and Women, 1920s Regina M. Anderson  (1901 - 1993): playwright and librarian, of mixed African, Native American, Jewish and European descent. She helped organize a 1924 dinner that brought together the Harlem Renaissance. Josephine Baker  (1906 - 1975): a singer, dancer and entertainer, she was most successful in France and other parts of Europe.Gwendolyn Bennett (1902 - 1981): an artist, poet and writer, she was an assistant to the editor of  Opportunity  and a co-founder of the journal  Fire!!. Marita Bonner  (1899 - 1971): a writer, playwright and essayist, she is best known for her play  The Purple Flower. Hallie Quinn Brown  (1845 - 1949): writer, educator, clubwoman and activist, she was an elder influence on the Harlem Renaissance writers.Anita Scott Coleman (1890 - 1960):although she lived in the southwestern United States, her short stories, poems and essays often appeared during the Harlem Renaissance in national magazines.Mae V. Cowdery (1909 - 1953): a poet, she publish ed in a Philadelphia journal and one of her poems took first place in a poetry contest in The Crisis.Clarissa Scott Delaney (1901 - 1927): a poet, educator and social worker, she published several poems and was part of Georgia Douglas Johnsons literary club. She worked with the National Urban League in New York before succumbing to a long battle with streptococcus. Jessie Redmon Fauset  (1882 - 1961): poet, essayist, novelist, educator and editor of the NAACP magazine  The Crisis.  She was called the midwife of the Harlem Renaissance.Angelina Weld Grimkà © (1880 - 1958): poet, playwright, journalist and educator. Her father was a nephew of abolitionists and feminists  Angelina Grimkà © Weld and Sarah Moore Grimkà ©. She was published in  The Crisis  and  Opportunity  and in anthologies of the Harlem Renaissance. Ariel Williams Holloway  (1905 - 1973): poet and teacher of music, she published poems during the Harlem Renaissance including in  Opportunity.Virgini a Houston: a poet and social worker (dates unknown) her often-erotic poems were published during the Harlem Renaissance. Zora Neale Hurston  (1891 - 1960): anthropologist, folklorist and writer, she applied her social science interests to her novels about black life. Georgia Douglas Johnson  (1880 - 1966): poet and playwright, she was of African, Native American and European descent. She often wrote of black life and against lynching. Her literary salon in Washington, DC, Saturday Nighters, was a center of Harlem Renaissance figures.Helene Johnson (1906 - 1995): a poet, she published in  Opportunity.   She stopped publishing her poetry in 1937, but continued writing a poem every day until her death.Lois Mailou Jones (1905 - 1998): artist.   She taught at Howard University from 1929 until 1977, studying in France on a fellowship in 1937 where she was connected to the  Nà ©gritude movement. Nella Larsen  (1891 - 1964): a nurse and librarian, raised by her Danish mother and stepfather, she also wrote two novels and some short stories, traveling to Europe on a Guggenheim Fellowship.Florence Mills (1896 - 1927): singer, comedian, dancer, known as queen of happiness, she was part of the wider circles that included many Harlem Renaissance figures. Alice Dunbar-Nelson  (1875 - 1935): poet, activist, journalist, educator. She was married to Paul Laurence Dunbar in her first marriage.Effie Lee Newsome (1885 - 1979): writer and poet, she wrote for children including in a column in  The Crisis,  editing columns of children in  Opportunity. Esther Popel (1896 - 1958): poet, activist, editor, educator.   She wrote for  The Crisis  and  Opportunity.  She was part of Georgia Douglas Johnsons literary circle in Washington, DC. Augusta Savage  (1892 - 1962): sculptor, she was part of the Harlem Renaissance. During the Depression she taught and fulfilled commissions, including  Lift Every Voice and Sing   (or The Harp) for the 1939 New York Worlds Fair.Bessie Smith (1894 - 1937): blues singer, prominent during the period of the Harlem Renaissance and later.Anne Spencer (1882 - 1975): poet. though she lived in Virginia, she was part of the circle of writers and thinkers known as the Harlem Renaissance. She was the first African American to have a poem included in the  Norton Anthology of American Poetry.   Her home in Lynchburg was later a meeting place for African American artists and intellectuals, from Marian Anderson to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ALelia Walker  (1885 - 1931): patron of the arts and heir to the business of her mother, Madam C. J. Walker, she moved in circles with Harlems artists and intellectuals and often supported their work.Ethel Waters (1896 - 1977): actress and singer, she was the second African American nominated for an Academy Award.Dorothy West (1907 - 1998): writer. Cousin of Helene Johnson, she moved in the circles of the Harlem Renaissance after she moved to New York City. She publ ished the journal  Challenge  and then, later,  New Challenge.

Perception Of A Single Patient Interaction - 754 Words

Nurses encounter many different perceptions during a single patient interaction. Understanding each patient and their situation centers around understanding those perceptions. Perception is a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression. This paper will outline the main tenants of regarding, understanding, or interpreting. Defining the Topic In the field of nursing, a mental impression can be defined by our senses, selecting information and bringing that information to our brain. The brain maps out the information that has been received and begins to tell a story. Each story is unique and according to The Art of Possibilty (Zander Zander, 2000) the story told by each human being is â€Å"all invented† (Zander Zander, 2000, p.10). This story is their perception. Human beings’ perceptions are programed through their experiences and these experiences influence their awareness. When each human being’s brain is mapping out their story, they are forming assumptions (Zander Zander, 2000). People are not always aware of the assumptions they are making. Nurses encounter many different perceptions during a single patient interaction. There is the perception of the patient, the patient’s family, the doctor, co-workers and administration, just to name a few. These perceptions c an all vary based on each person’s previous experiences. Nurses needs to be able to work with each person’s perception to be the best leader and patient advocateShow MoreRelatedDr. King And Her Nursing Process Theory1453 Words   |  6 PagesThe paper will also discuss the model and how it relates to the nursing practice. Finally the strengths and limitations will be discussed. Goal Attainment Theory Imogene King developed her nursing theory on the basis that the nurse and the patient, â€Å"work together to achieve the goals in the continuous adjustments to stressors†. Dr. King received her master’s degree in science in nursing from St. Louis University in 1957. She was a professor at the University of South Florida. Dr. King’s nursingRead MoreNurses Encounter With A Single Patient Interaction1588 Words   |  7 Pages Nurses encounter many different perceptions during a single patient interaction. Understanding each patient and their situation centers around understanding those perceptions. Perception is a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression. This paper will outline the main tenants of regarding, understanding, or interpreting. Defining the Topic In the field of nursing, a mental impression can be defined by our senses, selecting information and bringing that informationRead MoreNurses Encounter With A Single Patient Interaction1591 Words   |  7 PagesNurses encounter a variety of perceptions during a single patient interaction. Understanding each patient and their situation centers around understanding those perceptions. Perception is a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression. This paper will outline the main tenants of regarding, understanding, or interpreting. Defining the Topic In the field of nursing, a mental impression can be defined by our senses, selecting information and bringing that informationRead MoreCommunication Is The Transmission Of The Message From A Sender1129 Words   |  5 Pagesbegins with the sender and ends with the receiver.1 The sender is an individual, group or organization that initiates communication. The sender initially depends on the success of the message because their experiences, attitudes, knowledge, skills, perceptions and culture influence the message. Written words, spoken words and selected non-verbal language are paramount in ensuring that the recipient interprets the message as intended by the sender.2 All communication begins with the sender. The firstRead MoreThe Theory Of Goal Attainment1481 Words   |  6 Pagesderived from King’s Conceptual System. The Theory of Goal Attainment focuses on the interactions between the personal, interpersonal, and social systems. Frey et al (2002) describes the central concepts of the theory as â€Å"perception, communication, interaction, transaction, self, role, growth and development, stressors/stress, time, and space.† Four specific concepts within the theory; perception, communication, interaction, and transaction, form what King calls the â€Å"transaction process†. The transactionRead MoreEffectiveness Of Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy On Treating Nssi, Eating Disorders And Substance Abuse Disorder1264 Words   |  6 PagesEating Disorders and Substance Abuse Disorder Overview of intervention/Introduction Emma is a 15-year-old teenager diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. Partaking in episodes of binge eating, fasting and self- induced vomiting; Emma has a distorted perception regarding her weight and body image. Similarly, Ethan is a 16-year-old teenager diagnosed with Non- suicidal- self-injury (NSSI), who through repetitive cuts and burns to the body uses self- injury as an emotional regulatory strategy. Both EmmaRead MoreDecision Making Across Health Care Providers, Patients, Managers, And Policy Makers807 Words   |  4 Pageshealth care providers, patients, managers, and policy makers. This knowledge to action gap needs behaviour change, practice or policy change [94]. Behaviour change is a complex process, it needs an assessment of the health care system to identify the adaptability and feasibility of change, and facilitators and barriers to change [95]. Therefore, this gap has to be addressed using effective knowledge translation interventions, which may result in improve health o utcomes among patients [94]. Knowledge TranslationRead MoreGrand Theories And Middle Range Theories1219 Words   |  5 Pagestheir levels of perception, and the literature mentions that there are two kinds of concepts: grand theories and middle-range theories. Whether concepts are grand or mid-range (MR), we establish corrective intellectual and influence practice and investigation. By description, grand concepts are theoretical, complex, and detached from practice. We are not destined to be simply grasped or experienced. Associated with grand theories, MR theories enclose less perception and interactions, are adjustableRead MoreFamily Health Assessment1196 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: FAMILY HEALTH ASSESSMEN Family Health Assessment Open-Minded, Family Focused Questions: I interviewed my dad on all11 Functional Health Patters. Values, health perception: 1. Do you have any past medical history like surgery or chronic illness? 2. Do you use tobacco, alcohol or drugs? 3. Are you taking any prescription/nonprescription medications? 4. What religion are you? 5. Is there any religious restrictions or practices? Nutrition: 1. Are you in any kind of dietRead MoreConsumer Determinants Are The Factors That Impact The Patient s Choice Of Health Care Providers1185 Words   |  5 Pagesservices that will be provided in order to attract patients to the healthcare provider. If the intention was to attract a single patient, the organization could develop a set of services and structures to perfectly align with the patient’s needs. Considering the goal is to build an organization that will attract as many available patients in the region as possible, they must devise strategies that intersect with the preferences of the patient population that they are seeking to attract. In comparing

No Face, No Gain Freudian Analysis of No Face by Junot Diaz free essay sample

In his short story â€Å"No Face†, Diaz explores how a man’s mental growth is stunted by his community’s perpetual scrutiny of him for reasons beyond his control. One’s superego represents societal ideals as seen by an individual and while No Face aspires to one day achieves his, he has been told since infantry that he will not before his face is restored. This story’s theme is that without the opportunity to satisfy the superego through societal fulfillment; a person may become supremely id driven and is likely to depend on defence mechanisms to cope, specifically regression in the case of Ysrael. Ysraels’s hyperactive id is seen in his consistently impulsive behavior and continuous fulfilment of the pleasure principle (Krapp 157). After scavenging for money, Ysrael’s first thought is whether to buy a bottle of soda or a johnnycake when he should be saving to afford his surgery (Diaz 154). Impulsive again, when he is driving as a motorcycle passenger with Padre Lou, Ysrael leans on their turns to create a more thrilling ride despite the padre’s warnings that this may tip the borrowed vehicle (Diaz 158). Ysrael thinks back to a moment when he had scratched the sores off of his litte brother’s scalp, a harmful impulse that is rooted in the displacement of Ysrael’s anger towards those who bully him onto the boy (Diaz 159). He has learned to surpress this id driven impulse but continues to fantasize when affectionately touching his brother. The id is immature and impulsive, just as the behaviour displayed by Ysrael. When a person reaches maturity they learn to control id impulses as their superego grows to provide a moral code and sense of reality (Krapp 157). Though Ysrael is learning through experience, as demonstrated in his resisting picking Pesao’s scalp, his id continues to control his conscious unless he is forced to see firsthand consequences like Pesao screams and blood. Without an unconscious reference prompting Ysrael to stop his actions, his id prevaiils because his supergo is underdeveloped due to his denying of reality through regression and other defences. Regression, a Freudian defence mechanism, is seen in the super-hero like commands Ysrael gives himself in times of turmoil. This is Ysrael’s ego taking initiative, giving him the tools necessary to endure reality. When the town boys ambush Ysrael, he shouts â€Å"STRENGTH†, forcing his attackers off of him so he can scurry down the street to the safety of the church (Diaz 156). Ysrael practices the power of â€Å"INVISIBILITY† as well as a means of avoiding such ambushes (Diaz 155). Ysrael states, â€Å"So many wish him to fall. So many wish him gone† in his head. This is an accurate depiction of the community’s oppinion of him, but the way he hears it as a catchphrase from a comic book shows the blending of reality and fantasy (Diaz 155). After a day of fending off bullies, Ysrael tells Pesao he is â€Å"fighting evil† rather than getting beat up and abused, and denies that his brother would enjoy fighting evil with him (Diaz 160). Though imaginary, the superpowers Ysrael has bestowed upon himself are reflective of the power of the psyche to relieve the realistic anxiety he experiences (Krapp 158). The attitude of Ysrael towards his brother shows that Ysrael feels he is unique in being a superhero; his id is constructing a reason for him to feel extraordinary in comparison to others. Ysrael’s ego has become accustomed to defending itself by regressing to this childlike behaviour; providing feelings of heroism as opposed to those of victimization. By positing the society that he has been excluded from as the villan, Ysrael posits himself as superior, protecting his ego. Ysrael struggles to construct the core values within his superego because the societal ideals of his peers and family are not applicable to him due to his physical differences. Ysrael finds similarities between him and comic book characters such as Kaliman because his turban covers parts of his face, much like Ysrael’s mask (Diaz 155). Ysrael susbstitutes expressing the ideals of his society with embodying those of fictional characters, expanding his id further as his superego cannot. This exemplifies again how closely the progression of the id or superego causes the opposite in the other. The yearning of Ysrael for a more prominent superego is seen in his concious mind’s reaction to his unconscious thoughts. Ysrael has reoccuring nightmares that force him to relive the day when his problems began, the day he was attacked by a pig (Diaz 157). He was too young to have remembered the incident himself but the story has been told too repetitively, engrained so deepy in his mind, that it has become a traumatic facet of his unconscious mind nonetheless. Once the dream reaches one of many bitter closes Ysrael’s unconcious has concieved, he awakens and comes to consciousness where he lays restless until he tells himself to â€Å"be a man† (Diaz 158). To Ysrael,  becoming a man is representative of success in the eyes of his community. He wants acceptance, but the opportunity to achieve it was taken from him on this day he recalls so regularly. There are desires of the unfilled superego that are presented in Ysrael’s unconcious mind. Upon awakening Ysrael is forced to confront them in a conscious state where he a reveals his concealed and insatiable desire – to â€Å"be a man†. This is the only time in â€Å"No Face† when Ysrael recognizes his desired change rather than suppressing it through regression and abiding by his id. In â€Å"No Face†, Diaz expresses the human desire for societal recognition and acceptance through exposing how it’s inaccessibility affects the psyche. We learn how closely connected the notion of growing up is to the flourishing of the superego as it prevents the formation of a boisterous id. Psychosexual development is a vital factor in Freudian psychology but is not the focus of this essay; it would be beneficial to pinpoint which stage of human development the attack on Ysrael interupted to further discuss how it damaged him in the future.

Psychoanalytical Perspective of the Awakening free essay sample

Psychoanalytical Perspective of The Awakening: The True Desires of Edna Pontellier Stacey Berry South University Online The True Desires of Edna Pontellier In the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, the emotional and sexual awakening is exemplified by a significant revelation in regards to the main character. The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, is a young woman caught in a loveless, but pampered marriage with husband, Leonce. Stirrings of independence began one summer after obtaining a friend in Robert LeBrun while resorting in Grand Isle, an island off the coast of Louisiana. Basking in Robert’s attention, new feelings awaken and unleash themselves beginning a profound change in Edna and liberating her beyond belief. Understanding that she has discarded her youthful hopes and dreams and that her current life is unfulfilling, Edna takes small steps toward freeing herself. This desire of freedom is ensued by infidelity that fills her void to some extent, ultimately at the expense of her marriage and motherhood. A psychoanalytical perspective will enable readers â€Å"to reveal the influence of the subconscious in the texts plot, setting, conflict, symbols, point of view, language, and character development† (South University Online, 2011). Assessing this novel through a psychoanalytical perspective will disclose Chopin’s use of symbols and events to uncover Edna’s true desires. This essay uses a psychoanalytical perspective; however, the use of a feminist or historical perspective can be applied to expose other valid points. First, a feminist perspective could reveal how Edna rebelled against the social grain by acting in a way that was not yet acceptable by women. There are two common principles of most feminine perspectives and according to South University Online, â€Å"one is that gender is socially constructed and another is that power is distributed unequally on the basis of sex, race and ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, ability, sexuality, and economic class status† (2011). Chopin acknowledged the difference in the expectations of a woman’s behavior as Edna expressed, â€Å"I suppose this is what you would call unwomanly; but I have got into a habit f expressing myself. It doesnt matter to me, and you may think me unwomanly if you like† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 36, para. 12). Secondly, a historical perspective could reveal that there was still racial tension during the late 1800’s. Throughout the novel, Edna refers to the children’s caregiver as a â€Å"quad roon† which means that she was three quarters white and one quarter black and those where the roles that people like her partook in. A historical perspective also shows of Edna’s prosperity in comparison to those who were not white that had many disadvantages. They suffered as laborers to whites during that time due to social, racial, and cultural issues. This view can be depicted through the language used for describing blacks such as when the narrator stated, â€Å"†¦to look at the darkies laying the cane† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 32, para. 10). Throughout the course of the novel, the symbols of things relating to birds seemingly portrayed what Edna desired. From the very beginning, the caged parrot represented Edna’s inability to communicate and her feeling of being trapped in the society that surrounded her. The mockingbird, however, was akin to Madame Reisz in the sense that she came to terms with her place in society, so she whistled as she pleased. â€Å"[The parrot] could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mocking-bird that hung on the other side of the door, whistling his fluty notes out upon the breeze with maddening persistence† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 1, para. 3). The entrapment is recognized for her desire to be free, in general, but the misunderstanding of the other language revealed her desire of wanting to express herself freely. In the narrator’s mention of Edna not being a â€Å"mother-woman,† the use of wings in terms to describe the other women of Grand Isle was for protection, not flying. Edna had no use of these wings, if not to fly. Recalling when Edna heard Madame Ratignolle play â€Å"Solitude,† she would imagine â€Å"the figure of a man standing beside a desolate rock on the seashore†¦ His attitude was one of hopeless resignation as he looked toward a distant bird winging its flight away from him† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 9, para. 19). Perhaps Edna was imagining herself as this bird fleeing her husband, Leonce, for the freedom she so sought after. The pigeon house presumably pleased Edna. She felt â€Å"every step which she took toward relieving herself from obligations added to her strength and expansion as an individual† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 32, para. 7). Madame Reisz understood Edna’s desire to be independent, but in order for her to be free, as well as act on her love for Robert, she knew that Edna would have to be strong. The narrator explains how Madame Reisz â€Å"felt [Edna’s] shoulder blades, to see if [her] wings were strong†¦ and stated that the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings’† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 7, para. 11). Nevertheless, the pigeon house resulted in being another cage for Edna because Robert could not bring himself to reside in the lifestyle she longed for. The strength required proved too much for Edna, thereby her suicide caused her to be the â€Å"bird with a broken wing [that] was beating the air above, reelin g, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 39, para. 23). Unable to conform to society, Edna received her freedom at the cost of her life. Similarly, the symbolism of the sea represented Edna’s freedom and independence, in addition to her rebirth. The sea was also a voice of reasoning for Edna. It soothed her, conveying all that she wanted to hear. â€Å"The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing†¦ inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude†¦ The voice of the sea speaks to the soul† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 6, para. 6 and 7). It was Robert LeBrun who first introduced Edna to the water when teaching her how to swim; perhaps it was inevitable that she would desire him given that he initiated her journey to freedom and self-discovery. In fact, Robert encouraged her relationship with water early on when he insisted, â€Å"You mustnt miss your bath. Come on. The water must be delicious; it will not hurt you. Come† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 5, para. 26). Therefore, the relationship was non-existent without him. Edna’s awakening ignited after swimming for the first time when â€Å"a feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul†¦ She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 10, para. 7). Edna’s yearning to swim further was the foreshadowing of what was to come; it showed how far she was willing to go to get her freedom. She was also reminded by the water of her first interaction with independence as a child. She reminisces of walking through the tall grassy meadow with swimming arms in Kentucky (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 7, para. 15). Edna describes that independence when stating, â€Å"I was a little unthinking child in those days, just following a misleading impulse without question† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 7, para. 20). Edna’s desire to regain freedom and independence, which she realized she had as a child, is brought on by her encounter with the sea. Later she recognizes that the only way to fulfill those desires was to use the water to be reborn. She compared herself to a baby when learning how to swim and now she must return to that state to be reborn. The ocean represented her rebirth. â€Å"She felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world that it had never known† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 39, para. 26). She undressed herself, as though preparing for birth from the womb, appearing as an infant. â€Å"When she was there beside the sea†¦ for the first time in her life she stood naked†¦ and the waves invited her† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 9, para. 25). Edna meeting Robert slowly, but surely, triggered her deepest desire. She wanted to love and be loved passionately by him. â€Å"There was no human being whom she wanted near her except Robert† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 39, para. 22). He loved her just the same as he explains, â€Å"There in Mexico I was thinking of you all the time, and longing for you† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 36, para. 31). Robert had wanted Edna as his wife and if he had been what Leonce was for her, she could have been her happiest self. Leonce treated her like a possession which tainted her belief that marriage would ever work again. While on the other hand, Robert loved Edna for all the woman she was, not trying to change her. He did not stay because after thinking it over, while Edna was away with Madame Ratignolle, he realized that having Edna, not as his wife, would be looked down upon by society. Had she stayed, she could have had everything she hoped for. All things considered, her true desires would have been met with a life shared with Robert. Edna pours out her heart to Robert when she declares, â€Å"I love you†¦ only you; no one but you. It was you who awoke me last summer out of a life-long, stupid dream†¦ We shall be everything to each other. Nothing else in the world is of any consequence† (Chopin, 2005, Ch. 36, para. 49). Edna desired her freedom and independence, but what she failed to realize was her truest desire which included both. The symbols concerning birds showed Edna why she desired freedom and independence and the water allowed her to feel as though she had them, but being with Robert gave her those things also. Edna saw that being with Robert was the last piece to her puzzle and that is why she longed to be with him. If she stayed with him when he asked, however selfish, she, quite possibly, could have had everything she desired, the life she desired. References Chopin, K. (2005). The awakening [VitalSource digital version]. Raleigh, NC: Hayes Barton Press. South University Online. (2011). ENG1002: Composition/literature: Week 3: Psychoanalytic ways of reading. Retrieved from myeclassonline. com