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Simile
Explanation and Analysis—New-Born Creature:
At the end of the novel, Edna disrobes and stands naked before the Gulf. The book uses a simile to describe the significance of this moment:
She felt like some new-born creature, opening its eyes in a familiar world that it had never known.
In comparing Edna to a "new-born" creature, the novel emphasizes how transformative this moment is for Edna. By removing her swimsuit and swimming naked, Edna abandons social convention, acting on her desires instead of abiding by the social norms that dictate how she should behave. The simile suggests that Edna has been reborn, completely transformed. This bold act of individuality and freedom, however, paradoxically occurs moments before her death. Soon after, caught between either a restrictive life full of obligation or an aimless life, Edna chooses the ultimate freedom of death.
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