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Katherine O Flaherty's The Story Of An Hour

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Life is a rollercoaster where next surprise is waiting for us on every step. Kate Chopin (Katherine O’Flaherty) presents life surprises in her short story “The Story of an Hour”. This story was first published as “The Dream of an Hour” in Vogue on December 6, 1894.The story was one of the controversial during the 1890s because it deals with female protagonist who feels liberated by the news of her husband’s death. The title itself refers to period of time between an hour only. The story begins upon hearing of Mr. Brentley’s tragic death in a railroad accident to her weak- hearted wife Mrs. Brentley. Kate symbolizes the freedom of a married woman rather than being a traditional who feels as if her life has come to an end after her husband death. …show more content…

At times of Chopin there were more stories. Marriages was not the mutual understandings or love between two people but was monetary comfort, social status and acceptance. Only five percent of women were employed as doctors in 1890’s in the United States. Women were weaker than men physically as well as mentally as men were regarded more rational and logical. They were more emotional as they were part of household activities and dependent. As they were in the house most of the times they were more private, non-sensual and pure. Not only women had difficulty in houses but also they were discriminated in workplace as older women and married women were refused to be hired as well as they had to continue to do low-wage, semi-skilled and seasonal employment as they were thought to be passive, irrational and weak in thinking.
With the context of the story, as she might have been in the house for long time serving husband having unhappy married life which seemed to be long. She did not realize that she could live for herself until she heard the news of her husband being death. She mentions the she only loved him sometimes and marriage, love could make her alert and give her recognition about

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