Indirect Characterization

Oftentimes, authors use literary elements to portray an idea. In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the writer uses specific literary elements to show the effects of tragedy. Precisely, the author uses imagery and indirect characterization to show how tragedy can create opportunity.
Chopin uses indirect characterization to prove to the reader that tragedy can create opportunity and open new doors. The main character, Mrs. Mallard, just found out that her husband had died in a railroad accident and went back to her room to reflect on it. Chopin writes, “She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.” Through the use of indirect characterization it can be

Mallard was not happy in her relationship. Since only the day before she wished that her life would not be long and now after receiving the terrible news that her husband Brantly had died, she wished it would be long, that tells the reader that she was not happy with her husband. She is glad to spend her life doing what she would like to do and not being controlled by her partner. This is indirect characterization because it doesn’t say that she is glad her husband died, but it can be inferred based on the sudden change of mood. In another example, Mrs. Mallard is reflecting and realizes she can now live for herself. The author states, “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.” Indirect characterization shows the reader that Mrs. Mallard is less stressed out. This is indirect characterization because the author doesn’t specifically say that Mrs. Mallard is less stressed than when she was married, she just states that men and women both think that they should be able to have somewhat control over their partner. Now that Mrs. Mallard is free, the author states that she won’t have anything overpowering

After she receives the bad news, Mrs. Mallard observes the wilderness and her environment. Chopin writes, “But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.” This example of imagery helps the reader compare Mrs. Mallard's feelings to her surrounding environment. This is imagery because it is a visual representation of the main character's environment. This helps the reader understand how Mrs. Mallard feels or how the figure that reaches toward her wants her to feel. It states that there were sounds, scents and color that filled the air, this tells the reader that her environment is positive. Usually death is represented by dark shades, not colors and is also represented by being quiet, her environment is practically the opposite of that which lets the reader know that she is not suffering from her husband's death. Secondly, Mrs. Mallard is sitting next to an open window, collecting her thoughts on how she will react to her husband dying. The author writes, “She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread