Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

Freedom is an idea that many people have different definitions for. Freedom from slavery, the freedom to drive, and the freedom of speech are to name a few ideas. However, “The Story of an Hour” does not deal with any of those ideals from which the thought of freedom can be seen. “The Story of an Hour” reveals that freedom can be when someone is in control of his or her own life, and no one can enforce another’s will upon that person. In “The Story of an Hour”, the main character is Mrs. Louise Mallard, married to Mr. Brently Mallard. Louise had heart problems, therefore her sister and husband’s friend were very careful about how they would tell Louise of her husband’s death. They had feared that she might have a heart attack from the terrible news. As described in the story, “She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone.” Louise did not have a heart attack as her friends had thought could happen, but she was still full of grief.

“There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle to name.” This text reveals that this feeling was something that she had never felt before. Since she’s never experienced it, so she feared it. “But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.” Even the way that she described this feeling spoke fearful ideas. “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat if back with her will.” The fear of the unknown was taking over her and she wanted it to go