On the night of Edna's elegant party, the narrator uses imagery to describe Edna: 

The golden shimmer of Edna’s satin gown spread in rich folds on either side of her. There was a soft fall of lace encircling her shoulders. It was the color of her skin, without the glow, the myriad living tints that one may sometimes discover in vibrant flesh. There was something in her attitude, in her whole appearance when she leaned her head against the high-backed chair and spread her arms, which suggested the regal woman, the one who rules, who looks on, who stands alone.

Vivid details about Edna’s clothing and appearance—the make and color of her gown—emphasize her individuality as well as her beauty. Her dress "shimmer[s]" and looks like "vibrant flesh," which portrays Edna as striking, lively, and magnetic. The imagery also paints Edna like royalty, as if she is a queen: her status is that of someone high above and separate from the crowd, one who “stands alone.” This is the physical evidence of Edna’s awakening, after Edna becomes aware of her inner experience and “her position in the universe as a human being.” This inner experience contrasts with what society expects of her as a woman: to be her husband's possession, a convention she boldly rejects.