Kate Chopin uses symbolism and realism to enhance her theme of social conflict in the lives of women during the nineteenth century. These conflicts seemed to travel from one woman to the next, unnoticed by the rest of society. Chopin used these conflicts as a basis for all of her short stories and novels. This inevitably started turmoil about issues that never were brought out before. This, in turn, opened the eyes of society to the individuality of women.
             In The Awakening, by Chopin, a woman named Edna realizes that she is an individual and has individual feelings. She and her family lived at Grand Isle during the summer and her husband, Leonce, goes to the city every week, and is at Grand Isle during the weekend. This allows Edna the freedom to do and think what she pleases. A young man named Robert, lives at Grand Isle during the summer also. He flirts continuously with Edna, and she seems to like this sort of attention. Robert and Edna always went to the waterhole on the hot summer days to cool off. Of course, they would never go when the sun was high in the sky. Then, Robert would walk Edna back to her house and they would talk for hours. Everyone at Grand Isle could see the attractions between Edna and Robert, even Robert. Edna, on the other hand, did not see this attraction immediately. When Robert leaves for the Rio Grande, Edna is left feeling depressed and lonely. She decides that Robert wants nothing more to do with her, since he has written everyone letters of his journey except her. At this time, Edna is now living back in the city on Esplanade Street. Her husband is abroad and her children are visiting family. She is all alone. This allows Edna more freedom to meet new people without her husband right next to her. This was normal for Edna since her husband was often tending to business. During time that Leonce was away, Edna realizes that her life was not how she wanted it to be.
             While alone Ed...