People
She was flushed and felt intoxicated with the sound of her own voice and the unaccustomed taste of candor. It muddled her like wine, or like a first breath of freedom.
— Kate Chopin • The Awakening
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The passage describes honest speech as an unfamiliar pleasure that makes the woman feel intoxicated. Wine and a first breath of freedom give that sensation two comparisons. Candour brings release, but its novelty also muddles her, combining exhilaration with a temporary loss of steadiness.
Context reviewed