Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour

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

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