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Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour

933 Words4 Pages

Life is too short; therefore, we must learn to live it in the best way. Many times, we deprive ourselves of things we think are not important or we believe that at some point, we will have it, but unfortunately, they never happen. One of those things that we sometimes think we do not need or that is not so important in our lives is freedom. That little word that contains so many meanings and that without it is impossible to have a full and happy life, but that we cannot put into the hands of anyone. We must learn to fight for our freedom for ourselves. "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 …show more content…

Mallard, wanted to find freedom, she felt bound to her marriage, “whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength” (paragraph 8), For her, the fact that her husband had died and did not have to endure it any more, made her happy, because she knew there was nothing and no one who could bend her. “There would be no powerful will bending hers” (Paragraph 14). No one to impose anything on her or to live for her, Mrs. Mallard wanted to live for herself. “She would live for herself.” (Paragraph 14) Although she knew that her husband loved her, only that maybe he thought it was her duty to address Mrs. Mallard in everything she did. Another sample of the feminist and gender criticism of the time, who perhaps thought that just because they were men they had to direct their wives. That is why our main character feels a relief in the death of her husband, because she knows that he will not be there to direct his life and his

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635 Words | 3 Pages

Although Mrs. Mallard was in a situation of grief, she quickly realizes that losing her husband was a change of freedom “She said it over and over under her breath: ‘free, free, and free!” (Para 11 Line 5) Louise Mallard feel that she has control of her

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1968 Words | 8 Pages

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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616 Words | 3 Pages

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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648 Words | 3 Pages

Mallard in her relation with Mr. Mallard is an institution of her freedom. In the late 19th century, a husband would be the person that would be the “powerful will”(14) in his wife. When Mrs. Mallard says that “A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime,”(14) the reader realizes that problems in marriage doesn’t lie on individuals but in marriage itself. Even if the husband in the marriage means well, he still has the power to do and say what is right or wrong in the marriage. Therefore, Mrs. Mallard feels as if she is always a lesser party.

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709 Words | 3 Pages

Immediately after she was made aware of the tragic death, she felt the normal emotions that are associated with grief. After the initial shock wore off, Mrs.Mallard began to think of what her life will be like soon, without her husband. During the time she spent thinking, she realized she would no longer be tied down by the bond of marriage. Mrs.Mallard began to feel relief and joy after she realized she would be free once again. She can relax, have fun, and enjoy life now that she is freed from the responsibilities of marriage.

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1116 Words | 5 Pages

This shows that Mrs.Mallard is different from most women during the 1800’s, after hearing the news she doesn 't react dramatically instead she accepts her husband 's death and begins the think of her newly found freedom. Since Mrs. Mallard wasn 't

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468 Words | 2 Pages

Mrs. Mallard’s conflict reflect the situation of many women in that era because women in that time that was married lived under the husband identity, didn’t have much freedom, and were trap in marriage. Women in that era stayed in marriage even if they were unhappy. Even though Mrs. Mallard loved her husband it seems as she no longer cared to be in her marriage any longer. “But she saw beyond the bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.”

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1096 Words | 5 Pages

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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879 Words | 4 Pages

This quote shows the feminist theory that it was assumed women thought they had to give up their own lives when they tie a bond with their fellow mate. She was bending her will and freedom to a man that held all of the control in the relationship. Marriage, in this story, appears to be the male having complete control over the woman. It also seems like Mrs. Mallard thought that she wasn’t even allowed to have her own thoughts. To question your husband, at this period in time, meant that you were being an out of control

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913 Words | 4 Pages

Chopin also describes Mrs. Mallard as “young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength”. At the beginning Mrs. Mallard is thought of as being controlled, and weak. In the 19th Century, when this story was written, husbands controlled their wives. Perhaps Mrs. Mallard wasn’t like most women of her time. After she hears of her husband’s death she morns for what feels like only a moment.

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1364 Words | 6 Pages

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.

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1524 Words | 7 Pages

Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” is based on a woman in the 19th century whose husband dies suddenly in a tragic accident. As Mrs. Mallard learns of her husband’s untimely death and begins to grieve, she also begins to come to the realization she can finally start living a new way. However, Mrs. Mallard’s freedom is short lived when her husband arrives home, alive and well. In a twist, Mrs. Mallard’s hopes for a life free from the constraints of her marriage are ended abruptly with her demise. Chopin enlightens readers to the historical, political, and social circumstances of her era, as she challenges the status quo.

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558 Words | 3 Pages

" she kept whispering. The diction that is being used by Mrs.Mallard shows how she is actually feeling about the death of her husband. Mrs. Mallard feels as if she will be free now, freer than she was before since her husband’s death. This provides evidence of male dominance in a patriarchy through diction by Mrs.Mallard stating that she is ready to start a new life right after her husband passes away and the fact she states her body and soul are

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866 Words | 4 Pages

shows that although Mrs. Mallard was married, she had not always loved her husband (8). Mrs. Mallard valued her new freedom over her relationship she had with her husband enough to exclaim “What did it matter!” while she was thinking about her deceased husband and her future life (8). This makes the reader assume that Mrs. Mallard felt as if she was bound to something while her husband was still alive. The bondage is broken since her husband’s “death”, and she can now rejoice over her prolonged freedom.

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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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