Jesuit philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1948) believed that humankind follows a certain evolution of mind and body. This process involves a beginning (komogenese), a development (biogenese), and then a peak (noogenese) in which humans reach an Omega Point of higher being. Though his ideas were actually applied on a much broader scale of humanity over a large timespan, the theory can be applied to the individual's process of human development. Single humans begin as common clones of one another. From this commonality many examine their lives and develop the things within them that make them uniquely them. This development of the self only can be

Through swimming and the ocean, Edna finds a certain physical freedom. She is strongly drawn to the beach and often goes there to sit and talk with both Robert and Adele. It's openness and vastness is a symbol of freedom to her. She eventually learns to swim and does this often in order to become physically free and separate from all that enslaves her in her community. Through the ocean she ultimately completely removes herself from her enslavement through death.

Edna Pontellier and Mrs. May finally reach a point in which they form a certain understanding of themselves as individuals and an actual importance in the notion of the other. Both women reach this Omega Point of living through their own deaths.

Edna Pontellier, early in the novel, begins to realize that something is not right about her life. She is very uncomfortable in a Creole society and is unsatisfied in the presence of her family. In chapter 3, Edna bursts into tears late one night on the porch by herself. Leonce had just scolded her for not taking good care of the children, as he would often do. Edna had often in her marriage found herself crying uncontrollably without any reason she could fathom. This instance, however, she saw as being in direct contradiction to the kindness of her husband she had always freely accepted. This seen of Edna crying alone marks the beginning of her awakening experience.

The way in which Mrs. May treats the Greenleafs shows a degree of elitism or snobbery in her. She does not approve of the way Mr. Greenleaf works, or the way Mrs. Greenleaf prays, or the way the in which they raise their children. She holds her life to be the way of life and any lifestyles, religious practices, or parenting methods that are different from hers are wrong and should be changed.

The convergence process that Mrs. May experiences is not as blatant as the one Edna Pointellier experiences. Flannery O'Connor uses symbolic Christ figure of a bull in pursuit of Mrs. May to show the convergence upon an Omega point where she finds a higher level of understanding of life.

Through their deaths, and not until their deaths, Edna Pontellier and Mrs. May experience an individualism that is not self-centered, but unique while still holding on to the idea of love of others. Edna finds love through her children and Mrs. May finds love through the supernatural.

The stray bull loose on her property engulfs all of Mrs. May's time and energy. The ruined plants and potentially ruined herd are all that she holds as important. As a result of this, she despises and tries to control Mr. Greenleaf. Her placement of her property above human beings around her is evident through her ordering Mr. Greenleaf to shoot and kill the bull owned by his sons.

From this moment on, Edna gradually becomes awakened to the person she is inside. She takes the things she realizes in herself and develops them. Edna gradually breaks free of the oppressions she suffers from her husband, her family, and the Creole society in which she lives. She finds artistic, physical, sexual and romantic freedom.

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Approximate Word count = 2233
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)