The Metaphorical Lesbian in Chopin’s The Awakening Essay -- Chopin Awa

The metaphoric Lesbian in Chopins The AwakeningIn The Metaphorical Lesbian Edna Pontellier in The Awakening Elizabeth LeBlanc asserts that the character Edna Pontellier is an example of what Bonnie Zimmerman calls the metaphorical lesbian. Its important to distinguish between Zimmermans concept of the metaphorical lesbian and lesbianism. The metaphorical lesbian does not have to act on lesbian feelings or even become conscious of herself as a lesbian. Instead, the metaphorical lesbian creates a space for woman-identified relationships and experiences in a heterosexually hegemonic environment.In LeBlancs words, I am suggestingthat the presence of lesbian motifs and manifestations in the textbook offers a little-explored position from which to examine the strategies and tactics by which Edna attempts to establish a subjective identity. (237) LeBlancs support for this analysis comes from a variety of sources including Adrienne well-fixeds article Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbi an Experience, Teresa de Lauretiss, Monique Wittigs and even Kosofsky Sedgwicks wor...