The Comparison And Contrast Of “The Story Of An Ho

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The Comparison and Contrast of “The Story of an Hour” and “Two Portraits” According to Chopin Kate’s biography, she was born in the period which woman’s rights were very limited, and she was raised by women of her family(6). She develop herself to be a feminist who was against the society and the traditions back then. Her works tend to be inspired by the unfair society for women of that period and her will was trying to show readers her ideas through her out-standing works. Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and “Two Portraits” demonstrate the unfair treatment of women. These two stories focus on a woman’s life in different statuses. “The Story of an Hour” is about a married woman whose life is totally limited: “Most married woman were considered to be the property of her husband” (6). “Two Portraits” is about two women with the same name who were single but raised totally differently in every aspect. Both of the stories were set in the nineteenth century, which shows women statuses within the society during that period. Singles who are without family nor parents, will most likely become a nun or a prostitute to survive. Meanwhile married women live an uncomfortable life without freedom and are seen as a property of the husbands. The theme Chopin was trying to deliver is limited rights (as it shows through the stories), unfair society, the pursuit of freedom, “Free, free, free!” (7), “Free! Body and soul free!” (8), “But she really did not belong . . . anybody.” (59) , and yearning for love “She liked nothing better . . . and upon his knee” (59), “Into thy hands, Oh Lord. Into thy hands!” (61). All of her characters have a lot of pressure and are very deep and very ambitious, which is different than most girl in the nineteenth century. Nevertheless, they all have self- esteem and their own satisfaction which is very unique and
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