One of the great qualities about literature is its ability to remain relevant. Sometimes short stories from the past are able to reflect upon modern humanity. “The Story of an Hour,” “The Lady, or the Tiger?” and “The Necklace” are prime examples of how human nature has remained the same throughout time. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” portrays the strain marriage can have on a women. In the past and even today, marriage is seen as being one of the biggest accomplishments a woman can make. This may cause women to rush into a commitment they were never ready to make. In “The Story of an Hour”, Louise Mallard, a woman with heart problems, reportedly loses her husband, Brently Mallard, to a “railroad disaster” (Chopin 1). After weeping in front of her sister, Mrs. Mallard goes off into her room and begins to cry more, when she is suddenly overcome with the feeling of freedom. She is described as having a “feverish triumph in her eyes” and feeling “like a goddess of Victory” (Chopin 2) as if she has just won a battle. This imagery shows the reader how Mrs. Mallard must have felt in her …show more content…
In this classic tale, Mathilde Loisel, a “pretty and charming” (Maupassant 1) girl, has an unhealthy desire for wealth. One day her husband, Monsieur Loisel, is invited to a ball by the Ministry of Education. Mathilde complains about not having anything to wear. Mathilde uses her husband’s money that he was going to use for “a little shooting” (Maupassant 3). Mathilde has a wonderful time at the dance, but ends up losing the necklace. She and her husband work as hard as they can to buy a new one and return it to the woman they borrowed it from. Years later they learn that the necklace was not worth anything at all. Status and wealth mean nothing when someone’s life is miserable. This message is prevalent in today’s world. Celebrities and pop icons are not always happy even when they are rich and