Birds Will Be Birds Throughout Chopin's novel, The Awakening, uses symbols to convey a deeper meaning in the story. An ordinary animal, such as a bird, or an object, such as clothing, represent much more than what is only on the surface in the text. The symbolism of birds as women, clothing as freedom, and even art as personal freedom or failure embellish the novel and give it a deeper meaning. Birds are simple creatures, but they possess a great power, flight. This gift can be expressed or hindered through clipped wings or cages. Women are also magnificent creatures capable of so much, but in the Victorian era, (among others) exemplified in the novel, their freedoms were limited by men and society at large. So the birds were an appropriate and rather witty symbol with which to represent them. The colorful, repetitive parrot in the book represents Edna, "Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi!", (page 1) translates to "Get out, get out, damn it!" in English. The bird is caged in the bars, while Edna is caged in marriage, children and Creole society. He is a colorful creature, with creativity and talent in painting, and the parrot tells everyone what he wants to do (escape). The fact that the bird speaks three languages ​​(French, English, and Spanish) portrays Edna as complicated and difficult for anyone to fully understand, or even understand. Edna eventually gains some freedom by moving into the "pigeon loft", a small house that serves as a resting place for the birds just before flight. Mademoiselle Reisz is an artistic person like Edna (who paints), although she expresses herself through music, "The first chords that Mademoiselle Reisz struck on the piano sent a sharp tremor down Mrs. Pontellier's spine", (page 34) illustrates his great talent. Throughout the novel, a mockingbird embodies Reisz's character. The thrushes imitate other large sounds they hear, much like Mademoiselle Reisz's piano playing, which is remarkable and even makes Edna imagine scenes that coincide with the music. Reisz, perhaps because she is unmarried and follows her passion for art, has freedom like the wild and simple mockingbird. On the other hand, the exotic parrot representing Edna is not accustomed to life outdoors, and is trapped in a cage due to lack of creativity or casual artistic expression. Clothing represents the levels of freedom in The Awakening. At the beginning of the story Edna is fully clothed and often hides from the sun under the shade of a parasol.