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Passing Of Freedom In Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour

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Passing of Freedom Bound, unequal, and dependent upon their husband. This, was the normal way of life for wives of the 18th century. If suddenly, the notion of life as it has always been was altered, what would be the proper reaction? This is the predicament Mrs. Mallard- the subject of Kate Chopin’s’ short story found herself in. Beautifully, and controversially written, The Story of an Hour has rightfully held a place in the minds of its readers as a favorite for years. Author, Kate Chopin eloquently uses symbolism throughout the text of The Story of an Hour, to describe the reaction of a woman, - accustomed to being enslaved by her husband, who suddenly becomes devoured by a too short breath of freedom. In the opening paragraph, …show more content…

Mallard retreats to her room, and closes the door. Perhaps, Kate Chopin felt the need to specify that Mrs. Mallard closed the door, because the door itself represents more of an emotional barrier, rather than just a physical door. Later in the story as Josephine is begging Mrs. Mallard to let her in the door, perhaps, she is really requesting that Mrs. Mallard open herself, and allow Josephine to help her sort through her emotions. Correspondingly, Chopin describes an “open window” (pp 236) within Mrs. Mallards’ bedroom. The use of the word “open” symbolizes that new opportunities that are now possible for Mrs. Mallard. Furthermore, through the open window, the story describes the blue sky breaking through as the clouds move away, more than once. Like the open window, the patches of blue sky symbolize a new, fresh start. The clouds of her past are rolling away, leaving only a clear horizon ahead of her. Chopin then goes on to describe the “new spring life” (pp 236) that Mrs. Mallard views from the open window. Upon first reading of the story, the specifics of what is seen from the open window seem like meaningless details. However, these details symbolize a fresh start for Mrs. Mallards new life. Likewise, from the window Chopin tells that Mrs. Mallard sees salesman at work and birds singing. Both of which illustrate that life continues to go on, even in times of sorrow for

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She later died on August 22, 1904. Kate Chopin 's “The Story of an Hour” demonstrates how naturalism affects people in a variety of ways. When reading this short story it makes the reader consider feminism, women’s roles in society, as well as naturalism. Also how life may be brought to an end due to any cause such as a train crash. Kate wants the reader to realize that life is a natural event that can be changed at any given time.

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"The Story of an Hour": Rhetorical Appeals "The Story of an Hour" is a rather sad and short essay, but is filled with description and the main rhetorical appeals. Such as logic, credibility, and emotion; the writer Kate Chopin does an excellent job at displaying these. Therefore aiding her in expressing what it is like to be a wife and the struggles of marriage in the late 1800 's. She also expresses that you can never really know the truth unless you really look, and it took the death of her husband to realize that she was unhappy in her marriage.

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In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” demonstrates the personal growth of the dynamic protagonist Louise Mallard, after hearing news of her husband’s death. The third-person narrator telling the story uses deep insight into Mrs. Mallard’s thoughts and emotions as she sorts through her feelings after her sister informs her of her husband’s death. During a Character analysis of Louise Mallard, a reader will understand that the delicate Mrs. Mallard transforms her grief into excitement over her newly discovered freedom that leads to her death. As Mrs. Mallard sorts through her grief she realizes the importance of this freedom and the strength that she will be able to do it alone.

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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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Mallard’s oppression and happiness. This paragraph shows how the sky is reflecting the emotions of Mrs. Mallard and her view on her oppressive marriage. The “patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds” (Chopin 307) symbolizes the pieces of hope and freedom though the oppression she went though. The clouds represent all the trouble and oppression Mrs. Mallard has gone through while the blue sky symbolizes the hope and chance at freedom she has. These clouds could also be seen as the freedom that can quickly be taken away again.

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520 Words | 3 Pages

The Contrast of The Story of an Hour While Mrs. Mallard is just starting a new life, so to say, for herself, her life she has known comes to an end. She is just able to become “free, free, free!” (57) when she loses her life. Kate Chopin uses contrast with the news Richard’s gave, the way Mrs. Mallard felt in the room and the doctor’s news to show how women perceived marriage in the 19th century in her story The Story of an Hour.

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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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In Story of an Hour, there is a constant theme about Springtime. Not only does Springtime have warm weather and animals, it also portrays happiness and freedom. In this short story, Chopin discusses springtime as a relief that Mrs. Mallard’s husband has died. Springtime shows Mrs. Mallard being “set free” in a time of despair. Dark and gloomy weather usually represents death and pain while springtime portrays the new life that Mrs. Mallard will soon encounter after her husband 's death.

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828 Words | 4 Pages

Mallard reaches a sense of exuberant liberation. She is overwhelmed with feelings of a newfound freedom. Chopin illustrates this burst of hope once again through nature imagery when she writes, “But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air”(Chopin 237). Though Mrs. Mallard tries, she cannot fight the growing sense of freedom that overtakes her. Chopin writes this change as a powerful realization that Mrs. Mallard cannot help but accept.

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Kate Chopin reveals how language, institutions, and expected behavior restrain the natural desires and aspirations of women in patriarchal societies. In 1894, when this story was formed, culture had its own structure on marriage and the conduct towards women. Gender roles play a major role throughout our history. They would decide whether a woman in colonial times would be allowed to join the labor

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1239 Words | 5 Pages

However, as the reader continues, Mrs. Mallard actions take a turn, which would surprise a reader. She only grieves for a little while before she goes to her room—alone. There, Chopin hints at the truth behind Mrs. Mallards marriage. While most new widows, in that

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Another theme that is present is the theme of freedom. At first, she does not have much freedom at all and throughout the duration of they story she is confined in her home. Her newfound freedom gave her much joy but as she left her room, it was cut much too short due to her untimely death. The Story of an Hour has many structural, stylistic, and literary approaches that make it a very powerful

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Self-Identity and Freedom The story of an hour by Kate Chopin introduces us to Mrs. Mallard as she reacts to her husband’s death. In this short story, Chopin portrays the complexity of Mrs. Mallard’s emotions as she is saddened yet joyful of her loss. Kate Chopin’s story argues that an individual discovers their self-identity only after being freed from confinement.

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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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Kate Chopin was an independent woman even while being married to her husband she walked alone through the city of New Orleans, and she argued with others about politics and social problems which were also not normal for a woman to do around the 1880’s. Her husband later died and though she mourned his death she embraced this independence even more. Chopin wrote about the life and the people of Louisiana (since she moved there after her husband 's death) and focused most of her writings on love, marriage, women, and independence. In the short story “The Story of an Hour” Chopin introduces the themes of freedom/Independence, the oppressiveness of marriage, and mortality through these three themes Chopin depicts the struggle of women during the 1880’s.

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