True Freedom And Individuality

Towards the beginning of the novel, the ocean is described as “seductive’ to Edna which endlessly calls out to her in order her to attain her individualism. The ocean itself represents freedom and individuality. It is a place where people can go to be truly alone with no one around to oppress or control another individual, and it allows for Edna to lose herself inside her own individuality. On the other hand, true freedom and individuality can also create a sense of loneliness due to the separation from others like a separation of marriage.

Edna is initially afraid of venturing into the ocean and is unable to swim, representing her fear of being truly alone and fear of being free from her relationship with Leonce.

However, after bonding with Robert, it caused her to awaken and begin to develop her own identity, the prime example being her first successful attempt to swim in the ocean. Her first swim is the beginning of her rebellion against Leonce as she gains her individuality and courage after swimming for the first time.

Edna becomes more aware of her own individual power as she goes out alone, no longer dependent of anyone else to help her, similar to how she swims out by herself. Before Edna’s awakening, she was bound by the typical Victorian views of an ideal woman, but when she shouts out “think of the time I have lost splashing about like a baby!” she sheds her constraints forced upon Victorian women upon marriage.

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Prior to this event, Edna never openly rebelled against Leonce, and even if she did, she eventually submits to his will in the end. Now she is willing to find her own confidence and openly rebel, such as when she stops doing her job or when she moved out entirely. Furthermore, Edna’s first swim was accompanied by a sudden moment of fear when she realized how far she went from the shore. This feeling of dread symbolizes the moment where Edna realizes the negatives of being truly free. After being truly isolated, Edna can no longer rely on Leonce to support her and instead rely on her own strength to sustain herself. By turning back, Edna realizes how she does not yet have the strength at the moment to defy societal norms and break free from the binding constraints of marriage in order to be independent.