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Story Of An Hour Literary Analysis

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Recommended: Literary criticism of the story of an hour

Although Kate Chopin's piece entitled “The Story of an Hour” may be short, the variety of the plot points runs deep and long in substance. Despite Louise’s instantaneous grief upon hearing about her husband's alleged death and the realization of the magnitude of change to her life-- her future-- dawns on her. She soon realizes that she is no longer held back by the bonds of marriage, and can now find her personal identity.The possibility of her new life excited her. Although dead, she speaks fondly of her husband, and of the way he showed his love to her. Nonetheless, she experiences an epiphany to lead her to an awakening of her newfound potential. Where does her empowerment come from? Why is she so ready to take on the world alone? A married woman in the 1800’s had various limitations, and her eyes are now opened to what her life can be like without being defined and held back by her husband any longer. I do not believe she feels any guilt about her change of heart, but solely excitement about this new life she can begin. …show more content…

Often she had not. What did it matter! She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that 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.” (pg 550) During that passage, we can see how her mind shifts after hearing word about her husband's death. These words speak to the reader, because you feel the immense pain that Louise must be feeling in these moments. She mourned, for he was kind, and tender. However- she was aflame at the idea of being able to have a new start in this

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From the beginning she was taking the event seriously. She was ready from the start. In the middle of the book, people start accepting their own deaths. “I know she’s crazy to be flinging herself into death…” (Page 163).

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Editha was stunned by her husband’s death but when her tears came down she was relieved and able to release all the emotion that she held up inside of her. This is relatable because sometimes it is hard for people to cry or mourn someone’s death because they are in shock and not able to process the loss that they have endured. Howell also displays Editha’s reaction as a symbol that sometimes it is better to cry then to act strong or avoid the

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She slowly reaches the realization that she is not obligated to her husband anymore as all stereotypical Victorian women were and is excited for the free life without her spouse to embark

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This was bitter irony since everyone thought Louise died from being excited to see her husband when she really died from not wanting to see him. “She thought of Leonce and the children. They were part of her life. But they need not have thought that they could possess her, body and soul. ”(Chopin 137).

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“Her strong judgement at once dreaded the effects of an interview, that was likely to overwhelm them with unavailing sorrow, and thus to destroy that firmness which was so necessary to enable them to bear the trying scene with composure: she reminded him that their separation would be but for a moment, and that they would soon rejoin each other, where their affections would be united for ever, and where neight misfortunes, disappointments, nor death could reach them, but where their felicity would be

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Today, most people would assume that the reaction to a loved one’s death would be immediate grief; however, that would not be the case in the late 1800s. In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of An Hour” women were expected to grieve differently than men. The story conveys the main character Mrs. Mallard’s distress and joy after she discovered the supposed death of her husband. The story does not demonstrate Mrs. Mallard following the stages of grief that would be expected when grieving over her husband. In spite of the fact that Mrs. Mallard was grieving she was likewise encountering joy and satisfaction since she then realizes that she is currently free.

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Those sentiments show that her husband was not a cruel man but a kind one. With that information, it is still noted that “she had loved him—sometimes. Often she had not” (Chopin) which could mean her marriage was of convenience and not a choice. Even though this relationship may have been amicable Louise still struggles with this new emotion, that of

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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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During the time that this story took place married women were highly dependant on their husbands. The problem that is encountered with Mrs. Mallard is that she lacks the joy of Independence. At the beginning of the story freedom to Mrs. Mallard seems like an awful idea because she has been restricted in multiple ways such as the house, her marriage etc. Despite the love that is shared between a husband and a wife Mr. Mallard’s death seems to come as a release from oppression to Louise. As stated by Chopin “ There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.

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When Richard’s heard the news of her husband’s death, he assumed Mrs. Mallard would be devastated. While everyone knew Mrs. Mallard was “afflicted with heart trouble” (57), him and her sister, Josephine, wanted to give her the news with “great care” (57). Josephine broke the news to Mrs. Mallard in “broken sentences”

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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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She Breathed… that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long……. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of

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Louise’s victory in accepting her husband’s death is a feeling that she now cannot live without. The ultimate death of Louise Mallard is one that represents physical and emotional defeat. In this dramatic short story, Chopin uses imagery to sew together a tapestry of emotions all encompassed in an ill-stricken widow. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.”

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“The face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that 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.” This moment in “The Story of an Hour,” is relatable to Kate Chopin's own life. Though Kate loved her husband dearly, she was restricted from a lot of the things she wanted to pursue.

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The story of an Hour Critical Analysis through a Psychological Perspective using both Freud and Lacan’s theory approach. In the beginning of the story, the Chopin informs the audience of Mrs. Mallard serious heart condition. Her friends and family were worried how to break the news to her of her husband’s death. After giving it much thought Mrs. Mallard was given the news as gently as possible of her husband’s death.

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