In the 19th century behavioral and social problems such as problems in the home, intense worries, misery and inebriation were among some of the reasons for artists to commit suicide. Other strong contributions to suicide included social disorganization and alienation. Furthermore, people believed that the denial of the will to live could be found in the fact that some the ways people expressed themselves were not accepted at that time. It was also believed that some of the people who committed suicide had the will to live, but were dissatisfied with the conditions under which they were forced to live. Edna Pontellier, the protagonist in Kate Chopin's novel The Awakening, was an aspiring artist whose life was filled with passion and turmoil in a time of social change. Although, in the end she too met her demise.

Edna's family background can foreshadow her demise by illustrating the kind of social structure she was brought up to live in. Edna comes from a very strict and religious family which might ultimately have caused her demise." Falret attributed suicide to four major causes; ... (4) civilization and religious fanaticism," (Evans, 20-1). This proves that suicide by artists in the

This illustrates that Edna is finally awakening, and letting herself actually listen to the music as an artist instead of just a normal person. The difference is clearly shown, when Chopin writes " perhaps it was the first time she was ready," in the quote above, that she wasn't listening to the music quite the same way before. Furthermore, at the end of that quote where is says that " the passions themselves were aroused within her soul, swaying it, lashing it, as the waves daily beat upon her splendid body," foreshadows Edna's death as an artist in the words that were chosen to describe the music. Mademoiselle Reisz further portrays Edna as an artist when she says " You are the only one worth playing for. Those others? Bah!" (Chopin, 45). Edna finally recognizes herself as an artist through her paintings. " 'Painting!' laughed Edna. ' I'm becoming an artist. Think of it!'" Through her self-recognition as an artist, her eyes open to a new world of defiance.

In conclusion, I believe that Edna was an artist in every sense of the word. She defied her entire society while standing up for everything she believed. I believe that makes her a true artist.

When Edna commits suicide, she isn't just killing herself, but also expressing herself by telling her society that she doesn't care anymore. Furthermore, this act, to her society shows immense defiance. Griffin-Wolff states, " Edna's final act of destruction has a quality of uncompromising sensuous self-fulfillment as well," (156). Here it shows how, through her suicide, she fulfills herself by defying all that she was taught.

This is how her magnetism towards Arobin began, it is also the root of her cheating on Robert. Through this type of "foreplay," she fell in to his web of seduction.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Sundays Edna's, Mademoiselle Reisz, Evans Suicide, Mademoiselle Raiez, Kate Chopin's, Arobin Edna, Suicide Edna's, Artists Late, Griffin-Wolff Edna's, Edna Leonce's, 19th century, edna artist, act defiance, artist sense, final act, late 19th century, dissatisfied conditions, sense word, late 19th, intense worries, forced live, edna artist sense, artist sense word, themselves aroused soul, aroused soul swaying,
Approximate Word count = 2295
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)