Depression causes suicide. Mental anguish gives rise to erratic, impulsive behavior. The first incident in which Edna's torment is illustrated occurs when she returns from checking on her child whom Leonce, her husband, suspects feverish. Wandering outside, Edna observes, "The tears came so fast to Mrs. Pontellier's eyes that the damp sleeve of her peignoir no longer served to dry them.... Turning, she thrust her face, steaming and wet, into the bend of her arm, and went on crying there, not caring any longer to dry her face, her eyes, her arms. She could not have told why she was crying" (654). In this passage, Edna experienc

However, after Robert's final exit from Edna's life, she gives into her depression and becomes dead to the world. The individual sees no more value in her life. From this point on Edna's body takes over because her mind has relinquished to her depression. With the final insight that even Robert will fade from her memories and she will be left alone, Edna completely loses what little is left of her mind (731). Edna recalls "(She) walks down to the beach rather mechanically, not noticing anything special except that the sun was hot. She was not dwelling upon any particular train of thought" (731). Despondent, Edna surrenders to her depression and plunges into the fateful ocean.

The end of an interpersonal relationship is another cause of suicide. Upon losing a loved one, an individual sees no more meaning in her life. When Robert, Edna's true love, leaves her the first time, Edna recollects that losing Robert is like losing her reason for "existence" (683). Her first loss signifies Edna entering into her depression. However, when Robert returns, Edna comes out of her depressed state. She acknowledges: The morning was full of sunlight and hope. Edna could see before her no denial-only the promise of excessive joy. She lay in bed awake, with bright eyes full of speculation. 'He loves you, poor fool.' If she could but get that conviction firmly fixed in her mind, what mattered about the rest? (723)

Suffering from depression, which

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Approximate Word count = 980
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)