Answer:
To help the reader picture the separation between Grand Isle and the coast of Louisiana.
Explanation:
Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" revolves around the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman, and her desire of living her true self and being free to do that. The story deals with themes of independence, feminism, identity, freedom, etc.
The given passage is from the first chapter of the story where the narrator reveals the scene of the cottage at Grand Isle. The Pontelliers had come to the holiday spot to get away from New Orleans for a few days. And when the narrator reveals that the <em>"paper"</em> is a day old and that the <em>"Sunday papers had not yet reached Grand Isle"</em>, we can know that there is some distance between Grand Isle and New Orleans.
Thus, the correct answer is the fourth option.
Answer: I do not know if this is a multiple choice question or not, but I would contend that the blue flower is a reference to Neruda's country, Chile.
Explanation: The color blue is part of the flag of Chile. It symbolises, in part, the Pacific Ocean, and I believe that in these lines of his famous poem, the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda was referring to his beloved country, which he had had to abandon due to his political views. He is telling his lover that he wants her laughter like the flower he was waiting for, "the blue flower, the rose of my echoing country." He cannot have his country, but his lover's laughter will bring him the comfort that he needs in these difficult days away from his homeland.
Try replacing the word woman with any of those four words. Try to simplify the passage over all, and which ever one makes sense, is the right one. I'm assuming weakness is correct, because it says "therefore i forbid my tears" claiming they wont cry, and in this world, crying is a sign of weakness. But i would just get a few more opinions on it :)
