An Literary Analysis of

If, in 2002, a young lady were told that her future and husband had been predetermined for her without her consent, she would most likely be very unhappy and probably try to escape the situation. Contrary to this, in the late 1800¡¯s, young ladies had to accept the fact that their marriage and future had been set in stone for them. In Kate Chopin¡¯s ¡°The Story of an Hour¡±, the main character, Mrs. Mallard, learns her husband has died in a train wreck. At first, Mrs. Mallard is overcome with sadness but then a new feeling of euphoria comes to her when she realizes that her husband¡¯s death frees her from the oppressiveness of the marriage. Mrs. Mallard¡¯s joyous reaction to her husband¡¯s death is justifiable when you evaluate the institution of marriage in the early 19th century. Chopin uses irony in "The Story of an Hour" to illustrate the problem relative to marital relationships in the 19th century. In the 19th century, many women were coerced into marriage not only because of love but also for social acceptance, tradition, and economic factors. This is the same for the protagonist of the story, Mrs. Mallard. When Mrs. Mallard first learns of h

Mallard is trapped into an unloving marriage where her husband s private will is imposed upon her. Her first reaction is typical of how many women were expected to react to their husband s death. Mallard learns how it feels to be her own person and how to live for herself without the will of her husband being forced upon her. Due to the belief that her husband is dead, Mrs. Mallard realizes through her husband s death There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself (13). Mallard probably did not feel loved by her husband but she feels that her marriage is more about her social well being than love. Mallard sees her potential to begin a new life and through Mr. Mallard has been liberated through her husband's disaster . Mallard noticing the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life (13), foreshadow that Mrs. Mallard did not have the option of divorce so she was trapped into a situation that she did not find pleasing.