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Story Of An Hour Psychoanalytic Lens

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The Story of The Story of an Hour The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin plays into Sigmund Freud’s theories of psychology that the Id, Ego and the Superego control the unconscious, desires, and the defenses of the individual. Through the psychoanalytic lens of The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin we perceive her emotional journey and how that is initially driven by the Id, Ego, and Superego creating quite the ironic revelation. As Louise Mallard moves from learning of her husband’s death to learning of his survival, her id, superego, and ego all make an appearance through her actions and thoughts. The ego is how an individual copes with their unconscious desires. The ego can be seen taking power in Louise’s thoughts as she sits thinking in a chair “…there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder…it was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought”(Chopin 60). In this quote, Louise is not actively trying to process the information of her husband’s death, but she is trying to hold onto the tinge of optimism she feels revolving around the news of her husband’s death …show more content…

when Louise has had time to process the information of her husband’s death and she begins to realize her potential freedom; the id begins to dominate over her superego causing Louise to feel optimistic and joyful. The id, Freud suggests, is the superego’s counterpart. As Louise’s id begins to gain power again, freedom starts to form in her mind, although she is unable to put a name to the thought. The narrative states, “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name…she was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching her…she was striving to beat it back with her will…” (Chopin 1). The stimulus of her husband’s death is starting to create a word-presentation of the freedom she once had before she was

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Unsurprisingly, this article discusses the emotions in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour.” S.S. Jamil shows the irony in stereotyping women as overemotional, when the conventional roles Louise Mallard lives in force her to suppress her emotions. Jamil suggests that this is the cause of Louise’s heart trouble, since psychological health does affect physical health. The self-assertion that Louise discovers is permission to be herself, since emotions are a substantial part of who we are. The narrative of this article paints Louise as the victim and society as the culprit.

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2118 Words | 9 Pages

Throughout this book there are many moments that can be related to other works. In this situation the perfect comparison is Kate Chopin’s “The Story Of An Hour”. The protagonist shares a similar moment where her spouse dies from a tragic event and she has a realization: There would be no one to live for 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.

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1112 Words | 5 Pages

353) This quote depicts the very emotions that coursed through her body when she found out that her husband was dead, the immense salvation she felt shows that she was yearning for that freedom for a while. This quote also shows that weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and that this relief causes her to live more independently without the burden of societal pressure. Another quote that proves this thesis is "There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself." Chopin pg 352: This quote shows the reader that she is aware that she can live for herself and have the independence that comes with it.

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870 Words | 4 Pages

The main character, Mrs. Mallard, just found out that her husband had died in a railroad accident and went back to her room to reflect on it. Chopin writes, “She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.” Through the use of indirect characterization it can be

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751 Words | 4 Pages

(Chopin) This quote is a perfect example of a metaphor that women were under a man’s “control”. The quote is saying that the woman is excited almost that her husband is dead because she is saying that he does not have control of her anymore and she is free from his grasp. Now she can do whatever she wants to do without having to ask permission from her husband. This quote also shows that women felt controlled and trapped in their own lives.

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929 Words | 4 Pages

As when told the news of her Husband’s death the initial reaction of it seemed like she was sad: “She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. When the storm of grief had passed itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.” (Chopin 1). This is what everyone in the room thought as she left the room, wanting to be alone to grieve off the news.

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1228 Words | 5 Pages

After learning of her husband’s death, Louise Mallard confines herself in a room in her house and, “Into this [armchair] she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul” (Chopin 630). Louise’s “exhaustion” seems to compress her. By confining herself to one room, her tiredness is constricting her and “press[ing] down” on her soul. She cannot escape from this exhaustion or the terrible news about her husband. And able to enjoy some rights, as a widow.

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454 Words | 2 Pages

“Then a strange,an awful change in her husband’s manner,which she dared not ask him to explain. He absented himself from home; and when there,avoided her presence and that of her child,without excuse. Desiree was miserable enough to die.” Mrs.Chopin inklings Desiree was dreaded of her lifestyle,yet she rather die than face the deficiency of her husband. The adjust in her husband played a key role in Desiree’s depression.

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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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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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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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828 Words | 4 Pages

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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953 Words | 4 Pages

The Short Story The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin explores the emotions of Louise Mallard a woman with a heart disease. In the hour that the story is told, it ranges from showing Mrs. Mallard different reactions to learning of her husbands death to him surprisingly showing up alive and eventually her untimely death from a heart disease. Although only a brief period of time is shown, many emotions are revealed through the third person omniscient point of view. This point of view shows more than just the protagonists thoughts and is not limited to one person. It allows the readers to know something about Mrs. Mallard that she does not as the story ends after Mrs. Mallard has already died.

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770 Words | 4 Pages

The story also argues that freedom is a very powerful force that affects the mental or emotional state of a person. Chopin argues that only through death can one be finally freed. The author makes strong, yet subtle statements towards humanity and women’s rights. Through subtle symbolism, Kate Chopin demonstrates how marriage is more like a confining role of servitude rather than a

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1346 Words | 6 Pages

(Chopin, the Story of an Hour)” It would be prudent to believe by the way Mrs. Mallard was crying that indeed she was devastated about her husband’s tragic death.

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