Sexuality And Independence In The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

Chopin expertly adds irony to the story by stating, “When the doctors came they say she had died from heart disease - of joy that kills” (8). However, the readers know that she died because of the sudden loss of her new found freedom. This develops irony because the characters didn’t know the excitement she felt when her spouse “passed away”, but the readers know she rejoiced in her freedom. From the characters point of view, it may seem she died because she was so excited her husband returned safely. After Mrs. Mallard barracked herself in her room, it is stated that she “Abandoned herself” and then started chanting “Free! Free! Free!” (7). This displays her excitement towards her husband's death. However, the other characters are fearing for her health since they believe she is not strong enough to get through the

Mrs. Mallard, one of the characters in the story, is described in great detail. She is described not only physically, but also emotionally in order to give the reader some foresight for how she might handle certain events such as tragedy. One of the factors that realism focuses present in the story is death. When a loved one has died, the family experiences immense heartache and pain. In reaction to the news, Mrs. Mallard “She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a / sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to / sob in its dreams” (Chopin 170). This is a very realistic description of how a real person would feel after a death. This kind of sadness is quite relatable to most anyone and incites sadness and mourning. This relatability makes it a painfully

Mallard underwent a change when she came to the realization that she would no longer be under the control of her husband and was free. She began to think about all the time she would have to herself and “Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body” (Chopin 279). Her previous state of sadness and mourning over the loss of her husband diminished. However, her joyous outlook on her new life was short lived due to her death from her heart disease after she saw her husband, whom she thought was dead, walk through the door. This is an extremely drastic change for Mrs. Mallard because she went from being alive to being deceased.

This news comes from her husband 's friend, who says that Brently Mallard has died in a railroad accident. Mrs. Mallard 's sister, Josephine, mindful of Mrs. Mallard 's heart condition, breaks the news to her "in broken sentences" and "veiled hints" (193). But when Mrs. Mallard hears the shocking news, she undergoes a profound transformation that empowers her with a "clear and exalted perception" (194). As Chopin demonstrates, this heightened consciousness comes to the protagonist because of her awakened emotions. Revealing her own dynamic and avant-garde understanding, Chopin rejects the tradition of attributing supremacy to the faculty of reason in the act of perception, and she attributes it instead to the faculty of emotions.

When it is revealed that she has “heart trouble”, her sister uses extreme caution when breaking the news about the death of Mrs. Mallard’s husband. Chopin makes use of certain things in the short story where things can be taken literally and figuratively. Mrs. Mallard’s heart condition can be looked at literally and figuratively because Chopin incorporates it as both a physical and symbolic problem. Mrs. Mallard did have mixed feeling about her marriage and the lack of freedom that she had. When Mrs. Mallard realizes that she has this

Chopin begins her short story by describing the Mrs. Mallard grieving actions towards hearing the breaking news of her husband’s death. The narrator recites “Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble.” The narrator also describes “She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arm.” Chopin immediately diagnoses her with heart trouble to later reflect the reasoning behind her death at the end that has not one but two meanings: her death and symbolizing the treatment in her marriage as a disease reflects not only death but personal struggle or oppression. Mrs. Mallard’s reaction toward the news illustrates the steps of grief in a woman which would usually be denial at first but Mrs. Mallards action immediately pushes towards her emotional reaction symbolizing

There are two settings in the story one is downstairs and one is up. Down Stairs were learn that Mrs.Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble.The fact that Chopin is very unclear and just says ”heart trouble” suggest that Mrs. Mallard's problems are with in her mind and her relationship with Mr.Mallard indicating that that she feels oppressed in her marriage. When Josephine, Mrs.Mallard's sister revealed with “veiled hints” that Brently Mallard was dead she wept hysterically “with sudden wild abandonment in her sister's arms”, opposed to feeling numb or “paralyzed” as she knows many other

Considered one of American’s foremost feminist authors, Kate Chopin addresses issues challenging to the social and gender roles of the late 1800s. She celebrates women who seek their own identity and focuses on individual journeys of self-discovery. Her short story “The Story of an Hour” has a unique structure in that it adheres to a realistic premise, yet contains a protagonist who represents idealism. Faced with the news that her husband has died, Mrs. Mallard takes ownership of her own emotions and strength to control her life. However, her emotional revelation emerges only upon her husband’s supposed death. Chopin juxtaposes physical death with emotional freedom, suggesting actions and feelings are determined by social, psychological, and emotional forces instead of individual will. In order to show the fragility of Mrs. Mallard and her idealism, Chopin creates a microcosm in Mrs. Mallard’s bedroom of solidarity; a world of freedom and choice within the bedroom and the world of deterministic forces on the other side of the door. Through the setting, Chopin explores the dichotomy between the desire to change one’s situation and the possibility to change one’s situation.

Throughout the story Chopin either describes Mrs. Mallard’s drab reality first and then the desired possibilities she now possesses as a widow or the new life followed by what would be left behind. With the quick contrast of how Mrs. Mallard’s life will progress as a widow and the author’s description of the character’s feelings, it is clear being a widow is not long, if ever, viewed negatively by Mrs. Mallard.

“The Story of an Hour”, is a short story written by Kate Chopin in 1894. Throughout this time frame, the Women’s Suffrage Movement was going on as well as the constrained traditions of feminine roles. Men were known to be dominant and this short story connects very well with this time frame. In “The Story of an Hour”, Kate Chopin addresses many of the concerns that are central to feminism, by using verbal, situational and dramatic irony, as well as imagery and flashback, unveiling the issues of oppression and suppression in women. The main character of the story Mrs. Mallard, is firstly introduced to the reader.

In Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour”, the main character, Louise Mallard, is burdened with the news of her husband's death. As the story continues, readers believe that her actions are done out of grief, but when the reading is analyzed closer it is easy to see that Mrs. Mallard was not grief-stricken at all; she was quite the opposite. By clearly basing “The Story of an Hour” in its cultural context, Kate Chopin reveals a society steeped in the oppression of women.

From the moment Mrs. Mallard finds out the news of the death of her husband, Chopin immediately begins using vivid descriptions. “When the storm of grief has spent itself” lets the readers know about a theme slanted towards the weather (Meyer 15). This also gives the audience a mental image of a dim and ferocious scenery that signifies demise and grief. The way Mrs. Mallard reacts at first is what society would deem normal and to be expected. One can come into a conclusion that she is a sentimental and affectionate person due to her initial reaction.

Mallard’s despair shifts to pure and utter joy, her characterization is further presented through personification and imagery. Suddenly, Mrs. Mallard no longer seems severely unhappy, instead she appears to be hopeful for the potential change in her lifestyle, "There was something coming for her," Chopin describes. As the depression shifts to jubilation Chopin paints a picture of freedom creeping up onto Mrs. Mallard and grabbing hold of her entire persona. “She did not stop to ask,” Chopin describes, “if it were a monstrous joy that held her.” Through this personification, Mrs. Mallard is characterized as a restricted woman who had been trapped in an unhappy marriage, obediently bent to do whatever her husband asked or wanted of her.

Throughout the story, Chopin characterizes one of Mrs. Mallard’s emotions as being independent, however, this does not occur until she locked herself in her room to “mourn” her husband’s death. Josephine, her sister, begs her to open the door, “that she will make herself ill.” In contrast to Josephine, Chopin expresses that Mrs. Mallard is feeling more alive than ever by stating “... she was drinking in a very

In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” the main setting takes place in the 1800’s, this is a time where men are dominant and the idea of self-independence is not something often thought about. The minor setting of a railroad accident in the 1800’s set the tone for the roles of the sexes set forth in society. The major setting being Mrs. Mallard’s house after hearing news of her husband’s death continues the theme of status and roles being important but it also sets the reader up for the thought of shift of power. Kate Chopin uses irony, tone, setting and theme to focus on the concept of women being able to accept self-independence and being separate from the obligation and oppression of marriage.