Edna had attempted all summer to learn to swim. She had received instructions from both the men and women; in some instances from the children. Robert had pursued a system of lessons almost daily; and he was nearly at the point of discouragement in realizing the futility of his efforts. A certain ungovernable dread hung about her when in the water, unless there was a hand near by that might reach out and reassure her.
(From this paragraph one thing that I pulled out is Edna is quite resilient; she has failed at learning how to swim time after time, however; she continues to keep trying with other instructors until she has mastered swimming. I also found it very surprising the extent that Robert is helping her out; he seems to really connect and attach himself to Edna, almost like "puppy love".)
But that night she was like the little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who of a sudden realizes its powers, and walks for the first time alone, boldly and with over-confidence. She could have shouted for joy. She did shout for joy, as with a sweeping stroke or two she lifted her body to the surface of the water.
(Children are unaccustomed to this world and full of passion to try new things, this is the point where you can see a change in Edna. It suddenly dawns on her that life is for living and with confidence she attempts to concur an obstacle that has been in her way for a while.)
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.
(Edna can be stated from this point as a very determined woman, and i have a feeling that through this story we are going to see this progression more. More opportunities for Edna to do what Edna wants to do, not what is expected of her to do.)
Her unlooked-for achievement was the subject of wonder, applause, and admiration. Each one congratulated himself that his special teachings had accomplished this desired end.
"How easy it is!" she thought. "It is nothing," she said aloud; "why did I not discover before that it was nothing. Think of the time I have lost splashing about like a baby!" She would not join the groups in their sports and bouts, but intoxicated with her newly conquered power, she swam out alone.
(From that last sentence, Edna is an independent woman. She relies on people in certain situations but I don't believe that it is because she is dependent, she thoroughly enjoys company. She has this unseen courage and independence that excites me to see what she can accomplish.)
She turned her face seaward to gather in an impression of space and solitude, which the vast expanse of water, meeting and melting with the moonlit sky, conveyed to her excited fancy. As she swam she seemed to be reaching out for the unlimited in which to lose herself.
Once she turned and looked toward the shore, toward the people she had left there. She had not gone any great distance that is, what would have been a great distance for an experienced swimmer. But to her unaccustomed vision the stretch of water behind her assumed the aspect of a barrier which her unaided strength would never be able to overcome.
This passage shows a lot about where Edna has grown from the first chapter of the book to now. She has grown immensely. At the beginning of the book, the first impression was that she was passive. She allows her husband Leonce to accuse her of neglecting her children, and control her. This passage is the complete opposite, she has this rebirth or awakening when she "lifted her body to the surface of the water". She went through a cleansing in the water. The past is washed away; the dependency, the accusations, the control, and she rises and comes out independent and determined. You can see that by wanting to swim farther and farther out, her determination is overpowering her. At that point, she could care less about the consequences and she is determined to achieve what she initially thought as inconceivable. From this point on I have an inclination that Edna is going to do what she wants to do and not what other people think is best for her or expect for her.
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