Take Of An Hour Literary Analysis

Destiny Lara

Professor Kronbeck

English 102

March 2, 2016

Joy kill

America had recently abolished slavery, yet the 19th Amendment would not grant women the right to vote until 1920. A time in the States when woman had very little rights. Kate Chopin, considered to be one of the earliest prototypes of modern feminism, writes about the idea of being free in “The Take of an Hour”. Louise Mallard, the story's protagonist, is a woman in the 1890’s who does not have as much freedom as she'd whole heartily like to enjoy. Upon learning the death of her husband Brently, Louise like any other, grieved. In the mist of her tears, Louise soon realizes chestily, without her husband, new inner potential and an overwhelming sense of “free”. In Louise’s newfound

This becomes vital as the story unfolds with important and sensitive information pertaining to Mrs. Mallard. The narrator states, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death” (p174). Had the story been told in the first person, the audience would uncover different reasoning of her weak heart. Chopin’s omniscient third person narrator also allows Mrs. Louise Mallard’s character to maintain a sympathetic and sense of understanding to the reader. The narrator almost seems to be excusing Louise’s process of thought and behavior as she goes through her process of grief and later, relief. The narration appears to justify Mrs. Mallard, this can be seen as Louise is described cringing away from the thought of freedom, as stated, “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. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air” (p175). It appears as if it is not Mrs. Mallard’s fault for feeling these

The anedotalist describes Louise in deep thought, “…she had loved him- sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being! “Free! Body and soul free!” she kept whispering” (p175). In more than one way, Mrs. Mallard is overjoyed that her husband has passed away because she is now free. Free to do as she pleases, when she pleases and has no other to respond to, nobody but herself. Although at first the thought of complete freedom is fearsome, Louise quickly accepts and comes to terms with the new lifestyle she'll be able to lead as a widow, free of her husband and wifely duties. Had the story been told in first person, Mrs. Millard may be perceived as selfish, or lead one to believe she did not love her husband. As told by the narrator’s point of view, Mrs. Mallard comes across as powerless under the substantial weight of human truths.

The symbols used by Chopin's in “The Story of an Hour” gives a sense of Mrs. Mallard’s new life appearing right before her eyes through her view of an “open window” (p174). Louise Mallard experiences what most individuals long for during their life span, freedom. While locked away in her bedroom, Mrs. Mallard looks up and sees “patches of blue sky showing here and there