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Freedom In Kate Chopin's Story Of An Hour

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Have you ever had something that you loved so much and had something taken away from you? Mrs. Mallard from Kate Chopin’s “Story of An Hour” is a prime example of how something she loved getting unexpectedly taken away from her. She had loved her freedom after her past marriage so much and, had it abruptly taken away from her. In Kate Chopin’s short story, you get introduced to Mrs. Mallard, whom her husband had just died of a railroad accident. She immediately went through a grieving period and then, realized that she was free from all the pain her marriage had caused. She had a newfound hope and freedom to rely on throughout the rest of her life. Later on, her husband comes back to the house and she feels guilty about how she instantaneously …show more content…

Mallard realized how her marriage was stressful and not worth her freedom. She realizes that she is better off by herself without a man beside her. It states in paragraph 10, “When she abandoned herself a little whispered cord escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and under her breath: “free, free, free!’ “. This shows how Mrs. Mallard realized that she was better off happy and without her marriage by being free. She notices how she wants to have freedom throughout the rest of her life not needing a man.
At the end of the story, Mrs. Mallard notices that her husband was coming back, she immediately inverted ly turned it into guilt. It states in paragraph 19,“quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife. When the doctors came they said she had died from heart disease-- the joy that kills“. This shows how Mrs. Mallard died from the guilt of her husband 's reappearance into her life and the freedom she felt without her husband being by her side.
Freedom. It 's something we have but it can be easily taken away. This is especially true in “A Story of An Hour” where Mrs. Mallard’s freedom from her marriage is almost instantly taking away from her. The mood throughout the story portrays how her emotions changed, from better to worse. I think that Mrs. Mallard is an example of how important freedom means to a person, and how easily it can be taken

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As the story begins, it lets us know that Mrs. Mallard has heart trouble. Her sister Josephine, and Richard her husband’s best friend go to Mrs. Mallard after he heard of a railroad disaster that has resulted in death of Mr. Mallard. Both are concerned that the news will make Mrs. Mallard ill so Josephine is careful to tell her the news of his death. After Mrs. Mallard hears the news she is overcome with grief, then realizes the freedom shell gain.

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The term freedom slightly differs from person to person; there is no set definition. We all seek freedom to do and be what we want. Throughout history, people have taken extraordinary measures to gain their freedom and define the word for themselves. For example: Martin Luther organized peace protests to speak against segregation of the blacks, William Wilberforce created a petition signed by one million English citizens to set captives free in England, and finally Harriet Tubman put herself in the face of danger to help herself along with others escape slavery. In The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, the main character, Edna, desperately wants freedom from her husband and kids; in other words, no responsibilities.

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Finally characterization comes into place in both stories. In “The Story of an Hour” Mrs.Mallard has a rare reaction to finding out her husband is dead. Mrs.Mallard is happy that her husband is gone so she can be independent. Her reaction is probably not one that most people would have if there husband died. “Free,free,free!”

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The reader soon discovers, this feeling that comes to Mrs. Mallard is joy and relief, she feels this because she can now finally be her own person. Mrs. Mallard comes to the realization that her husband had been oppressing her for years, “There would be no powerful will bending..”, and she was finally free of that. Before the passing of her husband, Mrs. Mallard was scared of living a long life because of the treatment she received from him. After his passing she had a much different outlook, “There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself.” This shows that Mrs. Mallard was excited to now live her own life without being told what she was to do.

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In the beginning of the story, she heard the news of her husband’s death in train accident from her sister Josephine and her husband’s friend, Richard. She was shocked by the news and showed sad feelings in the story. However, when I was reading through the story, I could infer that Mallard had a terrible marriage life with her husband because the story later said that Mallard was happy because she had freedom. In the beginning of the story, she was shocked and sad but later on, she was happy because of in dependence. These evidences prove that she is a dynamic character.

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Mrs. Mallard’s actions cause the readers to contemplate a hidden meaning woven into the story line. Mr. Mallard is assumed to die in a railroad accident, leaving Mrs. Mallard devastated. Instead of feeling sadness or grief, Mrs. Mallard actually feels free. "There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature" (Page 499).

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Mrs. Mallard goes to her room, and looks out into the patchy blue sky. Chopin uses the patchy blue sky to create an image of darkness clearing out of Mrs. Mallard’s life. When reading the story, a sense of relief comes to mind as Mrs. Mallard thinks of her life ahead without Mr. Mallard. This is when Mrs. Mallard’s character finally starts thinking for herself. She no longer has Mr. Mallard to hold her back.

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Mallard reaches a sense of exuberant liberation. She is overwhelmed with feelings of a newfound freedom. Chopin illustrates this burst of hope once again through nature imagery when she writes, “But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air”(Chopin 237). Though Mrs. Mallard tries, she cannot fight the growing sense of freedom that overtakes her. Chopin writes this change as a powerful realization that Mrs. Mallard cannot help but accept.

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Both of these women felt trapped within their marriage and simply wanted a way out. “Story of an Hour” begins as a tale about a woman who is struck with the devastating news that her husband has died in a train accident. However, this was not so crippling to the wife, Mrs. Mallard. Her emotions overwhelmed her. When she looked out her window while sitting in her chair,

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With this belief Mrs. Mallard now looks forward to a long life. Previously to her husband’s death she dreaded the years ahead spent under the thumb of her husband. Now, though, Mrs. Mallard is someone who has much to look forward to and many joys to appreciate. Soon this opportunity is taken from her, just as her chance of freedom is taken from her she learns that Brently is still alive. When Mrs. Mallard sees Brently walk through the front door, the disappointment and the devastation of loss that she suffers cause her heart

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Mrs.Mallard’s receives the news of the death of her husband in the beginning of the story and Mrs.Mallard says ”she could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. ”The play on words manifests Mrs. Mallard’s inner feelings, ready to start a new life without her husband. Additionally, Mrs.Mallard doesn’t seem as emotionally unstable as most would feel right after their husband had just passed away. Furthermore, Mrs. Mallard says, “Free! Body and soul free!

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Mallard, has just been informed that her Husband, Mr. Mallard has passed away. Though Mrs. Mallard feels sorrow, she soon discovers the bright future she will lead with the absence of her antagonizing husband. She begins to think of all the things she will be able to do, that she was restrained from by her husband for so long. It's almost as if at that very moment, a burden was taken from her, and she could finally move on with her life. In the end, her husband returns and the shock of losing her precious future vanishes, causing Mrs. Mallard to have a stroke, and ultimately dying.

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Originally one would believe that Mrs. Mallard was an old sick lady with a heart condition that is struggling with recently becoming a widow, but that story line would be too easy. Metaphors were used to hint at what was to come. It would only be a matter of time before the mystery of Mrs. Mallard would be revealed. The thing about Mrs. Mallard is that she was easily relatable in the beginning of the story; she seemed to be an everyday woman. Once excitement grew over her husband’s death the suspense grew.

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The Short Story The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin explores the emotions of Louise Mallard a woman with a heart disease. In the hour that the story is told, it ranges from showing Mrs. Mallard different reactions to learning of her husbands death to him surprisingly showing up alive and eventually her untimely death from a heart disease. Although only a brief period of time is shown, many emotions are revealed through the third person omniscient point of view. This point of view shows more than just the protagonists thoughts and is not limited to one person. It allows the readers to know something about Mrs. Mallard that she does not as the story ends after Mrs. Mallard has already died.

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Self-Identity and Freedom The story of an hour by Kate Chopin introduces us to Mrs. Mallard as she reacts to her husband’s death. In this short story, Chopin portrays the complexity of Mrs. Mallard’s emotions as she is saddened yet joyful of her loss. Kate Chopin’s story argues that an individual discovers their self-identity only after being freed from confinement.

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