Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
On one hand the sea is a symbol of empowerment in The Awakening. In the sea, Edna learns to swim (and, by extension, learns that she does in fact have control over her own body). Check it out:
A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul. She grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before. (10. 7)
The sea also functions as a lover—as Chopin writes: "The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace."
On the other hand...well, on the other hand Edna drowns in the dang sea.
How are we supposed to read this apparent contradiction? Did Edna get (figuratively) too drunk off of empowerment and die? Or is this a deliberately circular choice by Edna, as in, she wanted her life to end where it truly began?