Is marriage a prison? According to Kate Chopin, the answer is – yes; marriage is a prison in which freedom does not exist. In 1894, Kate Chopin wrote and published “Story of an Hour.” The story takes place in the late nineteenth century in an American home, where Mrs. Mallard, the protagonist, heard about the news of her husband’s death from her sister. In the beginning, Mrs. Mallards felt sad about her husband’s death. The feeling, however, shifts because she begins to be happy about her husband’s death.
In the story, “The Story of an Hour”, Mrs. Mallard learns of her husband’s death from her sister Josephine. She is so distraught with the news, that she retreats to her bedroom to be alone. While in her room, she goes through several emotions: first, she is exhausted and allows herself to relax, then, she gets depressed by the news of her husband’s death, and finally, she is relieved
Ironically Reality of “The Story of an Hour” In Kate Chopin’s story “The Story of an Hour”, describe after Mrs. Marllard hear her sister told her that her husband’s death, her psychological changes in an hour. Instead of becomes extreme sadness, she experiences the joyful of the life. This character is struggling with herself, whether or not accept the new life. The detail where “her bosom rose and fell tumultuously” (par.9), is more than just a feeling, this establish the outcome, which is the death of Mrs. Mallard. This story use ironic writing technique to describe Mrs. Mallard’s mental change.
Through the struggles of this character, the reader experiences the different stages of grieving and the ultimate cost of heartbreak. The story opens with a description of how the characters were very tactful in breaking the news of the death of Mr. Mallard to Mrs. Mallard on the account of Mrs. Mallard’s heart trouble. Richard, Mr. Mallard’s friend, hastens to announce the dreadful news with tender care. Yet, her sister, Josephine, is the one who gently breaks the news to her. These precautions were taken out of the fear of the possible impact of the devastating news on her already fragile health.
The Story of an Hour is about a woman with a fragile heart, who is carefully informed of her husband Brently Mallard's death due to a railroad accident. As one reads the story, it is simple to believe that Mrs. Mallard weeps at the news of her husband’s death, for now she is a young widow who may have been deeply in love. However, there is much more depth and there are layers to the story that spark the question of how well one can truly know what another feels if one only knows a short part of the story. Mrs. Mallard maintains a façade of loving her husband, which is also perpetuated by the world view that a married couple loves each other. She is oppressed by her husband, whose “face…had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead”.
he Story of an Hour” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” were written in the end of nineteenth century when women had no equal rights with man. Women’s role in the society’s life was stereotyped as being housewives. Both authors, Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins Gilman, were women with feminist persuasions. Their stories shocked “conservative Victorian society” (Chopin 1) but are now considered some of the greatest. The protagonist of “The Story of an Hour” Mrs. Mallard dies of a heart attack when she saw her husband alive just an hour later hearing of his death in the railroad disaster.
They both fear that when they tell Louise the news of the wreck that killed her husband, Louise may become very sick. Richard and Josephine feel they need to deliver the news with great care and caution. . At first we think that Louise is very upset over the news that her husband had been killed in a train wreck; however we are told that she realizes the freedom she might have if she is no longer tied down to her husband. Louise keeps repeating to herself “free, free, free.” The very first action we are told about that Louise performs describes as unusual by Chopin.
Robin Shreve Ms. Johnson English 112 April 13, 2013 Symbolism of Two Stories Symbolism is one of many elements an author can use to aid a reader in understanding the picture being painted with words in a story. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Peter Meinke’s “The Cranes” is filled with symbolism throughout these two stories. “The Story of an Hour” tell us about Mrs. Mallard who has a weak heart. She is told of her husband Mr. Mallard’s death from her sister Josephine and husband’s friend Richards. Her first feelings were of despair and then her mind begins thinking and she realizes she is free.
“The Story of an Hour” The beginning of Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” presents a woman who is about to be told that her husband has been killed in a railroad disaster. Louise Mallard suffers from a heart condition so her sister and friends must break the news to her as delicately as possible. Immediately after hearing the shocking news, she reacts just as one would imagine by weeping as she ran off to her room alone. However, the reaction quickly shifts as with her husband’s passing she is overcome with joy as she realizes that she no longer has to live for anyone but herself. The open window that Louise gazes from is a key symbol which represents the freedom and opportunity that is now possible now that her husband has died.
Response Journal: “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Quote: “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept is significance.” (197) Response: “The Story of an Hour,” a short story by Kate Chopin, is the story of one hour in her life, which although short-lived, brought her both comfort and sorrow. The story reflects her true feelings, during a time when conservative and orthodox conduct were expected. Upon the disclosure to Mrs. Mallard, that her husband has been killed in an accident, she bursts into tears. One assumes she is grief-stricken, and only further into the story, do we begin to realize that her tears are of joy and exhuberation. She is finally free from the restrictive clutches of her seemingly conventional marriage.