In "The Story Of An Hour," a short story written by Kate Chopin, the desire for independence from male domination was illustrated. This theme represents a common sentiment from oppressed women in the nineteenth century. Louise Mallard, the protagonist, reveals her true feelings about her marriage to Brently Mallard. After hearing the news of her husband's death, Louise weeps not for her loss, but for her freedom. Through the context of the story and the use of symbolism, Chopin helps us understand why the feelings of bitterness and longing for freedom are present. Louise Mallard symbolizes the mind frame of females during the time of liberation.
             Louise and Brently Mallard had a very traditional marriage in which she was the one staying at home and doing all the household chores, while he was going on business trips. She played the role of a loving, traditional, young housewife. After seeing her husband travel, she too wanted to go and have her own adventure. Since women were not permitted to do what men were doing at the time this story took place, Louise was jealous of her husband. Soon her love for him became bitter and she eventually despised him.
             Hearing the news of her husband's death in a railroad accident, Louise Mallard, who had heart trouble, isolates herself in her room. She sits in her armchair looking out the open window. "She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life" (5). Chopin uses the open window and a spring day as symbols of freedom. The open window in her room symbolizes that there is no material object interfering with her freedom. Her husband, the only one holding her back, was no longer with her. The spring day is a new beginning for Louise in which she has found liberty. Louise feels a great sense of peace knowing that he is no longer coming back and she can go out whenever she wants without his cons...