The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

822 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Symbolism in kate chopin story of an hour

During the 19th century, it was traditional and common sense that women were subordinate to men in terms of status and opportunities. Women had no rights and men dominated their lives and everything in it. However, Kate Chopin, a woman herself, writes a story about an ill woman who yearns to be free from her husband’s grasp. Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour”, written in 1894, can best be understood by considering the cultural and historical background, the author’s life, the irony, symbolism, and other literary devices within the story, and the final insight the story leaves the readers to reflect on.
An insight into “The Story of an Hour” can be perceived by examining the cultural setting of the story. This story is written during the time women were subservient to men. Women during this period were seen as “weak, passive, timid, domestic, illogical, [and] emotional” (Radek). The society and economy ruled that women “should work in the home, taking care of [the] home and hearth” while men go out to work (Radek). Thus, women had very limited freedom and were seen as unequal to men. A further insight can be found by focusing on the historical background that impacted the story. In the 1800s, married women did not have the right to make wills and receive wages and in turn became “owned” property by their husbands. With regards to this, this is exactly what Mrs. Mallard is suffering from her husband, Brently. Not only is she restricted through her marriage and by her bad heart, but also by being confined in her home. However, after she hears the news about her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard could see the “delicious breath of rain [in] the air” known as freedom (Chopin 17). Mrs. Mallard silently whispers “free, free, free a...

... middle of paper ...

... The characters portrayed by Kate Chopin in “The Story of an Hour” reflect the author. As similar to Mrs. Mallard herself, Chopin is a portrayal to most women from the past that had no freedom. Ultimately, Chopin’s audience is able to understand women’s oppression during the 19th century.

Works Cited

Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” McDougal Littell. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2009. 760-763. Print.
Ker, Christina. "An Overview of the Life and Works of Kate Chopin." Empire:ZINE. Spyder's Empire, n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
Radek, Kimberly. “Women in the Nineteenth Century.” Women in Literature. Illinois Valley Community College. 21 Apr 2008. Web. 6 Apr 2014.
“ The Story of an Hour: Themes, Motifs, and Symbols.” Sparknotes. Sparknotes LLC. Web. 6 Apr 2014.
Wyatt, Neal. “Biography of Kate Chopin.” VCU. Virginia Commonwealth University, n.d. Web. 6 Apr 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Rough Draft Of The Story Of An Hour

    384 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Story of an Hour is a short story of Ms. Mallard, a woman with a heart condition who receives short term good news. Chopin uses contrast between independence, marriage, and gender to show how hidden emotions can effect a woman’s actions in the time period where women did not have much power or right to speak what came to their mind.

    Read More

  • The Power of the Written Word: Literary Greats Paving the Way for Social Equality

    1276 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history, women have struggled with, and fought against, oppression. They have been held back and weighed down by the sexist ideas of a male dominated society which has controlled cultural, economic and political ideas and structures. During the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s women became more vocal and rebuked sexism and the role that had been defined for them. Fighting with the powerful written word, women sought a voice, equality amongst men and an identity outside of their family. In many literary writings, especially by women, during the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s, we see symbols of oppression and the search for gender equality in society.

    Read More

  • Essay on Narrator and Point of View in Yellow Wallpaper and Story of an Hour

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wyatt, Neal "Biography of Kate Chopin" English 384: Women Writers. Ed. Ann M. Woodlief Copyright: 1998, Virginia Commonwealth University. (26 Jan. 1999) http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng384/katebio.htm

    Read More

  • Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...t the end of the story shows that liberation of women in a society ruled by a patriarchal mindset is doomed to fail (Wan 169). According to Wan, the story of an hour is a true depiction of representation of women in the nineteenth century when movements against oppression of women began to emerge (170). Although the outcomes were not as tragic as depicted in the story, it was obviously a journey filled with many challenges, and the fact that a viable resolve is yet to be achieved to date shows the issue of gender equality is grim.

    Read More

  • Power Through Freedom

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. DiYanni Robert. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1986. 38-41. Print.

    Read More

  • Marriage And A Woman's Role In The 1800s

    659 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, it talks about marriage and a woman’s life in the 1800’s. This story illustrates the stifling nature of a woman’s role during this time through Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death. When Mrs. Mallard obtains news that her husband is dead, she is hurt after a brief moment and then she is delighted with the thought of freedom. This story shows how life was in the mid 1800’s and how women were treated around that time.

    Read More

  • Importance of Water in The Awakening

    1462 Words  | 3 Pages

    Davis, Sara de Saussure. "Kate Chopin." Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 12 pp. 59-71. Literature Resource Center. Gale Group Databases. Central Lib. Fort Worth, TX. 11 Feb. 2003

    Read More

  • The Story of an Hour and A Pair of Silk Stockings

    1293 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chopin, Kate, and Kate Chopin. The Story of an Hour. Logan, IA: Perfection Learning, 2001. Print.

    Read More

  • Women's Issues in The Awakening by Kate Chopin, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Souls Belated by Edith Wharton

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    These women authors have served as an eye-opener for the readers, both men and women alike, in the past, and hopefully still in the present. (There are still cultures in the world today, where women are treated as unfairly as women were treated in the prior centuries). These women authors have impacted a male dominated society into reflecting on of the unfairness imposed upon women. Through their writings, each of these women authors who existed during that masochistic Victorian era, risked criticism and retribution. Each author ignored convention a...

    Read More

  • Essay on the Selfish Mrs. Mallard in Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bender, Bert. "Kate Chopin." Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler. Vol. 8. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1991. 20 vols.

    Read More

  • Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour

    394 Words  | 1 Pages

    Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour. Kate Chopin was a Victorian writer whose writing manifests her life experiences. She was not happy with the principles of the time, because women had fewer rights, and they were not considered equal to men. Afraid of segregation from society, people lived in a hypocritical world full of lies; moreover, Kate Chopin was not afraid of segregation, and used her writing as a weapon against oppression of the soul.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Freedom In The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

    1222 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kate Chopin, author of “The Story of an Hour” written in 1894 was the first author who emphasized strongly on femininity in her work. In the short story, Chopin writes about freedom and confinement Chopin is an atypical author who confronts feminist matter years before it was assumed. The time period that she wrote in women were advertised as a man’s property. The main idea in the short story is to illustrate that marriage confines women. In “The Story of an Hour” the author creates an intricate argument about freedom and confinement Mrs. Louise Mallard longing for freedom, but has been confined for so long freedom seems terrible. Mrs. Mallard wife of Brently Mallard instantly feels free when her husband dies. The reason she feels this way

    Read More

  • The Story of an Hour

    1193 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kate Chopin is able to illuminate her stories with clever language and meaning. As well as an immense criticism as to how society oppresses the individual in the glorified institution of marriage. Through language, she is able to introduce the thought of deeper meanings. “The Story of an Hour” being a prime example of the individual that has a need for freedom for herself. Through symbolism and straightforward comments, the freedom that Mrs. Louisa Mallard is notable just as her marriage is oppressive.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis of Mrs. Mallard in The Story of an Hour

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Eds. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd ed. New York: Pearson, 2010. 261-263. Print.

    Read More

  • “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. “Kate Chopin.” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, Sep2013. Academic Research Database. 1 Nov. 2013

    Read More

More about The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Open Document