A woman that lived a hundred years ago did not feel free because women felt that they were not able to do what they wanted to, since their family duties took too much of their time. Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour,” deals with the life of a woman, Louise Mallard, who is living a life controlled by her husband through marriage. She has only a life that had only one purpose, to serve her husband, which, in turn, leaves her no freedom. However, Louise gets a small taste of freedom when she learns of her husband’s death. It is a small taste of freedom because she was mistaken about his death. She realizes this fact when she sees her husband alive, which abruptly ends her heart-troubled life. Kate Chopin’s short story, “Story of an Hour,” is brief in length but packed with irony, symbols, and tone that contribute richly to ones understanding of what happens internally to Mrs. Mallard, the principal character.
The first irony detected is in the way that Louise reacts to the news of the death of her husband, Brently Mallard. Before Louise’s reaction is exposed, Chopin alludes to how the widow feels by describing the world according to her perception of it after the “horrible” news. Louise is said to “not hear the story
. . .
” (10) Rather, she accepts it and goes to her room to be alone. He is alive, but she wishes that he were not. However, when she is all alone she reveals her true feelings. She over and over again repeats, “free, free, free” (40). “Pressed down by a physical exhaustion,” (15) she collapses into a chair and stares out the window at the outside world. These external signs of renewed life are symbolic of Mrs. They are usually symbols of hope and rebirth. Once her hope for a life of independence is stolen from her, her very soul can no longer return to the cage of oppression imposed by her loving but overbearing husband. Immediately the image of comfort seems to strike an odd note. In the title, the “story” refers to that of Louise’s life. However, these are not the images that Chopin uses. Images like these are not usually associated with death.
In conclusion, Louise Mallard’s life of repression leads to a powerful need for self-assertion and free will.
Approximate Word count =
872
Approximate Pages =
3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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