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Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour

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Kate Chopin, author of “Story of an Hour,” is popular for her feminist works. “The Story of an Hour” would be a prime example of Kate Chopin’s efforts to show off her respect of women and their identities. In the short story, Mrs. Mallard plays the head character and suffers from a heart condition. Therefore, when it is to be brought to her attention that her husband has died in a terrible railroad accident it must be done with caution. Josephine, Mrs. Mallard’s sister, gets the terrible opportunity to enlighten her about her husband Mr. Mallard. When the news is delivered Mrs. Mallard does not react as most women would about the situation. Instead, Mrs. Mallard instantly feels relief and thinks of her own freedom and identity. The readers first realization that this is a feminist text should come in when the news is delivered to Mrs. Mallard. At first, as expected, she hollers out and rushes off to her room. In her room she looks out of her window, which is a literary symbol for opportunity, and for the first time …show more content…

Ballard was the character to originally be joyful of the discovery of her husband’s death, ironically she ends up dying. This part of the short story could have been a lesson for the reader. Many people would say that they would not find any joy in the event of their spouse dying. Yet, while reading, the reader gains some understanding of Mrs. Mallards situation and almost is able to support Mrs. Mallard. The death of her is to help the reader realize that you cannot escape the desire of freedom or need to be yourself. With a little research you discover that Kate Chopin is such a feminist because of her childhood. She was raised by very powerful women during that period which taught her independence. Her husband died when she was younger and left her to take care of six children on her own. In spite of this situation Kate Chopin turned to writing. This is why in many of her writings she escapes by reflecting her actual views on

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The universal fact of feminism is “the struggle to end sexist oppression” (hooks) in all forms. The time period in which Kate Chopin wrote “Story of an Hour”was during the same time the Women’s Rights Movement (1840 - 1920) was happening. During this time, women were paving a way towards a more independent future, so that they may make their own choices and be treated as equals. Chopin uses symbolism to showcase how an open window can express freedom and self-discovery within a woman.

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This can be seen when she fees free in a confined room, or how her weak heart sets her free from her husband through death. The author also sets up a subtle melancholy tone to the story that leaves the reader thinking and analyzing the sad events that occurred in the hour. She also use her tone to point out the cruelty idea of marriage at the time and how Mrs. Mallard thought it was a crime which left her powerless because she was a woman. Throughout this short story symbolism is quite clear. For example, when Mrs. Mallard is characterized with heart trouble.

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899 Words | 4 Pages

One of the most potent symbols in the story is the imagery of the open window, which represents both physical and metaphorical liberation. As Mrs. Mallard gazes out the window, she is confronted with the teasing prospect of a life unrestrained by the constraints of marriage. The open window symbolizes the threshold between captivity and freedom for Mrs. Mallard (Durrer et al. 2010).

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This theme is represented throughout the book through Mrs. Mallard. When Mrs. Mallard’s sister, Josephine, told Mrs. Mallard the devastating news, Mrs. Mallard reacted as any normal person would. She was distressed and bewildered. But as she reflected on the situation, she realized her feelings toward this tragedy were completely changing.

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1096 Words | 5 Pages

Every person has the right to be and feel free. They have the right to be independent and live happily. Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour,” focuses on sixty minutes in the life of a young Mrs. Mallard. Upon learning of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard experiences a revelation about her future without a husband. Her life, due to heart problems, suddenly ends after she unexpectedly finds out her husband is actually alive.

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983 Words | 4 Pages

Women of the 19th century were treated unfairly, not given the chance to speak their minds, were neglected of independence, and were unhappy with their marriage. The way women were treated during this time, is the primary focus of Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour.” Mrs. Mallard, the protagonist of this story, was unhappy living with her husband, Brently Mallard. After Mrs. Mallard’s sister, Josephine, attempts to forestall the news, she finds out that her husband had died; Her complicated feelings for her husband are depicted in her reaction to the news. Throughout the course of the story, Chopin uses imagery, symbolism, and irony to display the torture that women endured in the time the story was written.

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592 Words | 3 Pages

However, Mrs. Mallard experiences unexpected exhilaration due to the joy of freedom. On the doorway, she discovers her husband standing there alive. The husband presence shocked her, which lead to her death. The Plot Louise Millard has a heart problem, so the sister, Josephine, informs about the husband's death gently.

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424 Words | 2 Pages

One of the most acclaimed feminist of the 19th century, Kate Chopin, is revered for her diligent exposure to the inner lives of women in the world. Chopin has written numerous stories and novels during her lifetime, but one of her most praised compositions is “The Story of an Hour”. The story has a multitude of complex phrases with deeper meanings that are essential to creating a vivid and symbolic tale. “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble”, this phrase is imperative for creating an unexpected degree of irony and foreshadow for the audience, simply because of the morbid way she dies by her heart at the end. The next paramount phrase in Chopin’s Story is “She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms.”

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Mallard felt and the deeper meaning of the story. For example, the following line is one of the details utilized by the author; “There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of victory.” This quote greatly expresses the freedom Mrs. Mallard feels now that her husband is gone, and that she can live her life the way that she wants. However, when she sees her husband did not die, she quickly realizes that she will have to go back into her married lifestyle again, and she unexpectedly dies. Her death, however, has a deeper meaning that adds to the story.

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520 Words | 3 Pages

When Richard’s heard the news of her husband’s death, he assumed Mrs. Mallard would be devastated. While everyone knew Mrs. Mallard was “afflicted with heart trouble” (57), him and her sister, Josephine, wanted to give her the news with “great care” (57). Josephine broke the news to Mrs. Mallard in “broken sentences”

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913 Words | 4 Pages

Literary Analysis “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin introduces us to Mrs. Mallard as she reacts to the sudden death of her husband. Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard’s emotions as sad, yet happy that her husband has been killed. Kate Chopin’s “ The Story of an Hour” argues that when a person is controlled and made to live under another person their mental state of mind is affected. The story also argues that when that person is freed from the controlling person their true self can finally be achieved. Kate Chopin portrays these themes by the use of character development; plot control, and irony throughout the story.

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933 Words | 4 Pages

"The story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is a story that show an hour in the life of Mrs. Louse Mallard a woman who has a dream to be free, but she is worried about the happiness that can have when her husband dies, more that trying to be happy by herself. It a stories that shows us the importance of freedom. In this brief history is present the lack of freedom of Mrs. Mallard, there we can read how she experienced true freedom through the erroneous news of the death of her husband. We

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360 Words | 2 Pages

The “Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin was undeniably a roller-coaster ride. I certainly did not know how to act while reading the story because I felt particularly sympathetic towards Louise. Yet, I felt extremely agitated. The fact that Mrs. Mallard’s first name remained unmentioned until her husband’s death was amusing.

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176 Words | 1 Pages

I can really relate to how important it is to be sensitive enough not to create another tragic situation. Mrs. Mallard have different reactions to the news. Her first reaction was expected in the this type of situation she cried with her sister then leaving to be alone. The next reaction was a sense of independence she felt she was free. Mr.

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1124 Words | 5 Pages

Universidad de Costa Rica Carlos Contreras Flores B01884 Literary Criticism The Story of an Hour Divided in Two Millenniums Throughout human history, literature has giving people an insight of what the role of women were in different time periods. In most scenarios, literature has served to establish or spot the role of women as secondary, where they were mere subjects or objects of chauvinism. Although the role changes from time to time, it has one particular characteristic, which is the restraining of their liberty or right to choose. In “The Story of an Hour”, Kate Chopin illustrates throughout the character’s fate the only way to escape from the gender role that women were meant to have at 19th century. She achieves

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